Box henry brown mails himself to freedom

You're referring to the incredible true story of Henry "Box" Brown!

Henry "Box" Brown was an enslaved African American man who lived in the mid-19th century in the United States. In 1849, he made a daring escape from slavery by mailing himself to freedom in a wooden box.

Here's a brief summary of his remarkable story:

Henry Brown was born into slavery in 1815 in Louisa County, Virginia. He was forced to work on a plantation and was treated brutally by his enslavers. In 1848, Brown's wife and children were sold to a different plantation, and he was left behind. This devastating event led him to make a desperate attempt to escape.

Brown, who was about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds, decided to mail himself to freedom. He built a wooden box, about 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and 2 feet 6 inches high, with a small hole for air and a small window for light. He crawled inside the box and sealed it with nails and rope.

On March 23, 1849, Brown's friend, Samuel A. Smith, took the box to the Philadelphia post office and mailed it to Mr. William H. Green, a free black man in North Carolina. The box was labeled "Fragile" and "Live Animal" to avoid suspicion.

The journey was grueling and terrifying for Brown. He was trapped in the box for 27 hours, during which time he suffered from claustrophobia, dehydration, and hunger. He was also subjected to the rough handling of postal workers and the elements.

When the box arrived in North Carolina, Brown was finally able to emerge, exhausted and shaken. He was greeted by Mr. Green, who helped him recover from his ordeal.

Brown's daring escape made headlines in the abolitionist press, and he became a celebrated figure in the fight against slavery. He went on to become a prominent abolitionist speaker and writer, using his experiences to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery.

In 1850, Brown published a book about his escape, titled "Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Written by Himself." The book was a bestseller and helped to further the abolitionist cause.

Henry "Box" Brown's incredible story is a testament to the bravery and resilience of enslaved individuals who risked everything to fight for their freedom.