The Story of joshua glover

Gonzalo Palacios

My research focused on the remarkable story of Joshua Glover. Initially, I was drawn to his story due to the apparent heroism woven throughout the tale of Joshua's escape. As I analyzed Joshua's story deeper and deeper though, I found that it was much richer than I had previously thought. There are parallels between Joshua's story and the story of many people living in the present day.

"They battered down the door to Joshua's cell and put him in a buggy" [2]

The escape of Joshua Glover represents more than the escape of a single man, it represents the power of unity. Being alive during a time when most of the nation considered certain people property or subhuman was not easy, especially if you were one of the people subject to extreme prejudice and racism. However, there was some hope for a better future during these trying times. Joshua Glover got the chance to experience the good that could arise from a unified community acting for a just cause when a congregation of Milwaukee residents broke him out of prison.

Bridging the Past to the Present

Though the escaped slave is a role of a bygone time, there are still people suffering under a system of mass incarceration [3]. Although there may no longer be crowds of people freeing those who are unjustly imprisoned, there are still people who are fighting for their rights though the legal system [1]. The modern era may no longer need the staunch abolitionist, but it most certainly still needs the outspoken advocate. As history progresses, the past seems to recede ever farther away from the present. It is important to remember that although the labels and conditions may change, there will always be those who fight for progress, not just for themselves, but all of humankind.

Sources

[1]Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: New Press, 2020.

[2]“Joshua Glover: A Journey From Slavery to Freedom.” Wisconsin Historical Society, December 18, 2014. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS4368.

[3]Toner, Erin, Stephanie Lecci, Michelle Maternowski, and Ann-Elise Henzl. “Advocate: WI's High Rate of Incarcerating Black Men an ‘Undeclared State of Emergency.’” WUWM, March 11, 2014. https://www.wuwm.com/post/advocate-wis-high-rate-incarcerating-black-men-undeclared-state-emergency#stream/0.

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