Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom

Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is a compelling and inspiring narrative written by Ellen Craft and William Craft. The book tells the story of their escape from slavery in Macon Georgia in 1848 and their journey to freedom in the North. Ellen Craft was a slave who was light-skinned enough to pass as a white person while her husband William was a darker-skinned slave. They hatched a daring plan to escape to the North by posing as a wealthy white couple traveling with their servant. Ellen disguised herself as a white man and William disguised himself as her servant. The couple traveled by train and steamship covering more than a thousand miles from Macon to Philadelphia evading suspicion and detection at every turn. Along the way they encountered many challenges and had to use their wits and ingenuity to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is a vivid and detailed account of their incredible journey and it provides a valuable firsthand perspective on the horrors of slavery in the United States. The book also highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of the Crafts who risked everything for their freedom and paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps.