About This Book
An autobiographical memoir traces the author's childhood under bondage, his separation from family, and formative experiences on a plantation. It recounts his clandestine learning to read, escape to freedom, and development into a leading antislavery lecturer and activist. The account follows his work editing an influential newspaper, participation in rescue and recruitment efforts for Black soldiers, encounters with political leaders, and involvement in Reconstruction-era public service. Vivid episodes and portraits of people encountered are combined with sustained reflections on the institutions of slavery, racial injustice, moral responsibility, and the ongoing struggle for equality.