“Stealing a Little Freedom”: Enslaved Runaways in North Carolina

“Stealing a Little Freedom”: Enslaved Runaways in North Carolina

Students often have the misconception that those enslaved were passive beings who accepted all that was dealt to them, from harsh punishment to cruel restrictions. In this lesson, students will explore the perspective that in actuality, those enslaved were resilient in many ways, some by making the risky choice to run away. Through the exploration of runaway ads from North Carolina, students will gain an understanding of the individual lives affected by slavery as well as the skills and characteristics possessed by such individuals.  

To access the accompanying PPT, click here.

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Essential Questions: 
For what reasons did those enslaved choose to run away?
What were the risks and benefits associated with running away?
What can we learn about those enslaved through primary sources such as runaway ads?
What were the various skills enslaved people possessed?
Why is it important to focus on the fact that each enslaved person was an individual, making various decisions and choices of resistance daily, whether running away or not?