Henry Box Brown
Briefly

Henry Box Brown, born around 1815 in Virginia, made a bold escape from slavery by mailing himself to freedom in 1849. After losing his wife and children to sale, Brown sought help from his friend Dr. Smith and entered a wooden box for a 27-hour journey. He arrived in Philadelphia, greeted by abolitionists with a song of praise. Brown turned his escape into an anti-slavery platform, speaking about his experiences, although he faced criticism from figures like Frederick Douglass for potentially discouraging others from escaping.
Henry Box Brown, an enslaved man, gained notoriety for his daring escape in a wooden box, showcasing a powerful story of resilience and determination.
After enduring the pain of losing his family to slavery, Brown's innovative escape method led him to freedom and a new life as an anti-slavery speaker.
Mailing himself in a box, Brown traveled 27 hours for his freedom, later using his experience to promote abolition through compelling reenactments.
Frederick Douglass criticized Brown's decision to publicize his escape, believing that it might deter others from attempting their own journeys to freedom.
Read at World History Encyclopedia
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