Plot:
We all know of George Washington. He’s an American hero. What we don’t talk about as often is the fact that he owned hundreds of slaves. Ona Judge was technically the property of his wife, Martha Washington. When George and Martha moved to Philadelphia to begin their reign as America’s first family, Ona was one of the slaves they took with them. And at age 20, she successfully escaped from the Washington household. Never Caught is the story of the Washingtons, their human property, and their pursuit of one woman determined to live in freedom.
What I loved most:
American history is messy. George Washington helped found this country that is built on the concepts of freedom and all people being equal – and he also owned hundreds of slaves. Both of these things are true. This is the kind of history that you’re not taught in school (or at least the kind of history that I wasn’t taught in school), but if we’re truly committed to loving America and making this country the best that it can be, we absolutely have to explore our history in its entirety. Ignoring the evil in our past doesn’t make it any less real. Never Caught shares an eye-opening, brutal story that I’ll forever be mad about. This is an important read, y’all.
Read this book if you like:
History, biographies, unlearning and relearning, Black history month
Book details:
- Author: Erica Armstrong Dunbar
- Publisher: 37 Ink
- Date of Publication: February 17, 2017
- Interest Level: High schoolers and adults
The Lamp Post 