Ona Judge: Outwits the Washingtons. An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom

(Hardback)

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Description

In 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence promised freedom and equality for all. Those promises did not include millions of enslaved African Americans. George Washington was beloved as a victorious general and the first president of the United States but Washington was also a slaveholder. In his household an enslaved woman named Ona Judge dreamed of escaping and living free.
One spring night in 1796 One bravely fled Washington's mansion in Philadelphia and escaped to make a life far away. But the Washingtons wouldn't let her go easily. One would have to rely on her wits to avoid returning to life in slavery.

Reviews

Ona Judge was an African American woman born into slavery in 1773 and enslaved to the Washington family, first at the family's plantation at Mount Vernon--later, after George Washington became president, at the President's House in Philadelphia, then the nation's capital city. This story tells of her journey to freedom. She was a skilled and trustworthy slave but risked everything she knew to flee to freedom. Inspired by free black women she saw in the market selling pepperpot stew, she believed freedom was possible for her, too. When she was living in the President's Mansion in Philadelphia, she enlisted the help of Richard Allen, a free black man who was a minister, a chimney sweep, and free. With the help of his trusted circle, she escaped to New Hampshire, where she started a new life. The Washington's continued to search for her, creating a years-long hunt. Her persistence and wit allowed her to stay hidden and ultimately free, despite the harrowing dangers she often faced. Told in prose, this book offers a look at the contradiction of what the founding fathers meant by freedom during the inception of the United States.--Dr. Laura Kieselbach "The Children's Book Review"
Hooks is unflinching in her depiction of slavery, and weaves Ona's personal story into the larger national story of enslaved blacks in America. . . .Hooks contrasts the radical difference between the newly experienced freedom of white Americans beginning their democratic experiment, and the conditions of enslaved blacks, who were considered property, not citizens. . . .The story is an accessible corrective to whitewashed versions of US history. Simone Agoussoye's illustrations are warm and evocative. Her thoughtful use of color adds emotional depth to the picture book. This beautiful book is a must-have for personal and school libraries. It can be used during lessons on history, biography, or civics.-- "Raise Them Righteous"
The attention-grabbing text and unique illustrations will make this a welcome addition for all history collections.-- "School Library Journal"

Author Bio

Gwendolyn Hooks has written many books including If You Were A Kid During the Civil Rights Movement, The Cat Food Mystery, and Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Literature. She is the recipient of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Crystal Kite Award and her book Block Party is a Junior Library Guide selection. Gwendolyn resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Simone Agoussoye is an artist who has been drawing and painting since she was a little girl. Art has always been an outlet for Simone, and by third grade, she knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up--an artist. Simone's work incorporates color, nature, and emotion, and she enjoys drawing and painting portraits most of all. Simone lives and works in Baltimore, MD.