An Introduction to Africana Studies Hall of Fame
One under-recognized individual who resisted enslavement was Henry Singleton. He was born in 1843 and became a slave at the age of four (Escott, 73). Since African Americans used different ways of slavery resistance, Singleton also could alienate himself from the master by running away and hiding. Singleton could run away long distance of one-hundred miles away. Note that some slaves could hide temporarily as a form of economic negotiation with the master while others could hide permanently to gain freedom (Escott, 73).Singleton tried permanently to escape and he could run away and hide from whites despite him being harshly punished. In 1861, Singleton ran away and joined his comrade to join the Union. Singleton said that "I was born a slave…” (Escott, 734). However, Singleton reported that as the whites sought to enslave the Afraid Americans, he was focused to save freedom. He joined the Union forces and declare that no man should be a servant and everyone should be free. Later, he joined reunion at Gettysburg where he convinced his comrades that Blacks should unite and participate in the cold war (Escott, 74). I feel Singleton should be nominated to our Hall of Fame because despite being under the domination of whites, he used overt resistance and resisted the captivity.
Singleton has been selected for the Hall of Fame. Despite repeated threats to freedom, Singleton had the desire to gain control over his life and the black community as well. Being a runaway slave shows how willing to independence. He said that “I would stay in the woods all day and then come beach at night" “(Escott, 74). This shows the value of freedom and a greater sense of autonomy. Singleton employed direct and overt tactics to end slavery. He struggled daily to ensure that African Americans gain freedom.
Work cited
Escott, Paul D. North Carolinians in the Era of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Chapel Hill:
University of North Carolina Press, 2008. Internet resource.
