01/16/2025
In 1849, Henry "Box" Brown executed one of the most extraordinary and daring escapes in the history of the fight for freedom. After enduring 33 years of slavery, he sought an escape from his brutal existence by sealing himself inside a small wooden crate, just large enough for his body. He then had himself shipped from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia—a journey of 350 miles. During the agonizing journey, Brown survived by breathing through small holes he had carefully drilled into the crate, which offered minimal airflow. The cramped, dark space made every minute excruciating, but after enduring the suffocating ordeal, Brown arrived safely in Philadelphia.
Upon reaching the sanctuary of the North, he found the freedom he had longed for. The audacity and courage of his escape became a symbol of resilience, and Henry Brown went on to live another 50 years as a free man, continuing his work as an advocate for abolition and spreading awareness about the horrors of slavery. His remarkable story of survival and escape remains a powerful testament to the lengths one would go to for the sake of freedom.