Ellen Levine

Book Thesis: 

Henry "Box" Brown risked so much to be freed from slavery.

Supporting Details for Thesis

• He asked his friend and Dr. Smith, a white man opposed to slavery, to ship him to the North. If they got caught, they would be punished.

• He burned his skin with vitriol oil to have an excuse to lay out of work for the day.

• He traveled long distances by horse-drawn cart, steamboat, and train to get to Philadelphia.

• The box was shipped during half of his trip upside down, making Henry feel like his head would split open.

Major Concepts

• Determination to be free

• Turning an awful situation into a positive

• His story gave hope to others who wished for freedom

• Being able to keep moving forward in the face of tragedy

Possible Uses in The Classroom/Profession

• To teach students the horrible conditions of slavery and the injustices faced by the slaves.

• Historically accurate - based on a true story.