ing were forbidden. Our master says it’s just practice of the devil and if we were caught engaging in stories and conversations about the slave fugitives we would be lashed, nearly starved to death and worked a heavier load until he felt it was punishment enough. But I didn’t care because I had a dream one day that I would be able to walk the streets of my town Birmingham, Alabama and not looked upon as a nearly worthless piece of property. These thoughts were forbidden and even speaking of it was a crime. But momma always said, “they can take your mind, they can take your body, but they can never take what lies upon your heart and soul.”

It was around August of 1751. I knew the Master would be going away to visit his brother for three days (that’s one of the advantages of being able to work in the big house because I can snoop around and listen in on some things and obtaining information the field workers had no chance of obtaining) and I knew that this would be my one and only chance to escape and actually have a chance at succeeding. I figured by now I only have two options. To stay and live the rest of my life under slavery while being taken advantage of sexually or I could leave and risk my life to possible succeed and have a FREE life. The good out weighed the bad I had made up in my mind that I would flee for the north. When nightfall hit I bid my family farewell and I was off looking for my freedom. I ran until I reached the borders of South Carolina. There no one knew of me and I was able to put on a front and pretend to be one of them-the whites. When I saw the ad in the South Carolina Gazette on September 2, 1751, I swear you could have seen right through me cause I turned a just that palely white. It read:

After seeing this it only made me run faster and harder. I finally did reach the north after a long daunting journey of two whole months and it felt damn good to finally be away form the south and to be looked upon a “free” black woman. I’m thankful to have had the opportunities I’ve had. Being Mulatto, Knowing how to read (somewhat), knowing how to uphold myself in public, having fairly decent attire, and having that window of opportunity to escape

Some topics in this essay:
Master Bill, Birmingham Alabama, Mulatto Mulatto, Fredrick Douglas, Mulatto Knowing, Alabama Mulatto, Pretends Free, Daisy I’m, Gazette September, master bill, South Carolina, life slavery, birmingham alabama, town birmingham alabama, south carolina, master visit, fairly decent, shame walk, walk shame, walk shame walk, slave fugitives, speak english,