In this story, Elizabeth and her family escape their plantation in the middle of the night with help from Harriet Tubman.

This image group features portraits of Frederick Douglass, Phillis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano, who all learned to read and write while they were enslaved. Each used their gifts to help end slavery.

Thomas was born into slavery and lived a harsh life, but he was finally able to escape and reunite with his family.

When Africans were brought to American shores in chains, they brought pieces of Africa with them and used their traditions, music and culture to help them survive.

William Wells Brown was born into slavery and later escaped to become one of the foremost supporters of abolition.

Patty, a young enslaved girl, shares some insight about life on a South Carolina plantation.

In this poem, Nell and her family follow the North Star and navigate the Underground Railroad to freedom.

Nat Turner was an American freedom fighter who led one of history’s most successful revolts by enslaved people in Southampton County, VA.

Frederick Douglass made an amazing journey from slavery to freedom. Once free, Douglass committed his life to fighting for the freedom of others.

In the face of extreme punishment for enslaved people and breaking the law for whites, roughly 5 percent of the enslaved population learned to read and write. Letters like the ones written below show the lengths they would go to learn.