by El Camino
First published 2019
The year is 1847, and a former slave from Baltimore steps before a packed abolition meeting in New York City. His voice carries the weight of lived experience as he addresses the crowd gathered on May 11th. The protagonist draws from his escape from bondage to deliver a speech that cuts through the political rhetoric of the day. He understands that freedom demands more than words. It requires relentless action. The tension builds as he confronts an audience of reformers who champion various causes from women's rights to temperance to education reform. But his message remains focused on the central struggle of his time. He knows that African Americans must take a leading role in their own liberation. The speech becomes a call to action that would echo through the decades. At its heart, this is a story about the power of one voice to challenge a nation's conscience and the courage required to never stop fighting for justice.
Genres: historical-fiction, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, voice-of-experience
Setting: Baltimore, New York City
Period: 1847
78 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: slavery