Ellen CraftEllen Craft’s story is extraordinary. Born of a mixed race slave and her white master, Ellen’s skin was so pale that as a child she was mistaken for white, something that enraged her then mistress.
As an adult Ellen met and married William, another slave, but whose skin was very dark. They decided to run away and travel the huge distance north to Philadelphia where, in theory at least, they could be free and safe. To facilitate this Ellen had to disguise herself as a white person travelling with William as her slave. However, a white woman would not have been allowed to travel alone with a black man, so Ellen had to disguise herself one stage further – as a man.
Whether told as a ‘talking head’ or as an interactive story, this is an exciting tale of overcoming fear and incredible danger to gain freedom. At any time, if they had been caught on their long journey, Ellen and William could have been taken by slave hunters and even killed.
This is also the story of a woman having to play a man’s role and of later discrimination because of her sex. In Philadelphia the couple were still in danger from slave hunters who were free to cross the border from the south, so they fled to England to tell their story. But here Ellen was forced to take a back seat and, having played the dominant role in their escape, had to look on while William was made to tell their story. We cannot even be sure that William’s book on their life was penned by him, or simply published under his name to ensure an audience.
Suitable for: Key Stage 1 and 2 Curriculum In addition to contributing directly to a greater understanding of Black History, this piece also supports Citizenship, Units 5, 7, 8. Return from:
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