Maroons in North America
I knew my only hope of escape was to run away, so I started at once.
I had often heard ex-runaway slaves, men and women, tell the adventures of when they were in the woods and about their hiding places or rendezvous. I had heard it told so often at my father’s fireside that I knew almost directly where they were, for I had passed by them so many times, so I started to look for them.
William H. Robinson, From Log Cabin to the Pulpit, 1916
Networks of Resilience
William H. Robinson recounted his experiences as a young boy enslaved in Wilmington, North Carolina, and how he made the decision to escape after he struck his master in defense of his mother. Knowing he would face severe punishment if caught, Robinson knew exactly where to go for refuge. He joined a small group of runaway slaves in the woods who offered him protection for a few days before he was eventually recaptured by his enslaver. However, during his time with this group, Robinson witnessed something remarkable - a resilient and resourceful community that had learned to live comfortably while on the run. Their aim was to stay hidden in the Southern woods and swamps for extended periods of time, and Robinson was inspired by their determination to forge a sense of permanence despite the precariousness freedom. Read more
Shedding Light
This unit focuses on four case studies of escape to shed light on the secret spaces used by maroons to hide, sometimes dangerously close to their enslavers, and the underground networks of solidarity that supported their escape.
Overall, students will showcase the innovative strategies employed by maroons to achieve freedom and reject their enslavement in spaces that were still largely controlled by slavery. These efforts to remain invisible by blending in with their surroundings, secretly communicating with others, and creating underground networks of solidarity that resisted enslavement will help students recognize the diverse forms of escape, rather than a singular form or destination.
