ABHM Book Club presents: Enslaved, Indentured, Free by Mary Elise Antoine
We will be reading Enslaved, Indentured, Free: Five Black Women on the Upper Mississippi, 1800-1850 by Mary Elise Antoine, and discussing it virtually on December 12th at 6 PM via Zoom.
This book tells the powerful stories of four Black women—Mariah, Patsey, Courtney, and Rachel—who were born into slavery and ultimately gained their freedom. All four women lived in Prairie du Chien at different times, where their paths intertwined over five years. During their time in the community, they connected with Marianne Labuche, a free Black woman who likely inspired their quests for liberation.
Mariah purchased her freedom, while Patsey achieved hers through perseverance after her enslavers died. Courtney and Rachel filed successful freedom suits after moving to Missouri with their enslavers. Notably, the legal arguments in Courtney’s case later served as a precedent for Dred and Harriet Scott’s petition for freedom.
Mary Antoine meticulously reconstructs these women’s lives, drawing on various sources, including records from their enslavers, legal documents detailing births and marriages, and court transcripts. By centering their experiences, the book sheds light on the history of slavery in what is now Wisconsin, revealing that slavery persisted well into the 1800s despite being legally abolished. Against significant odds, these four women achieved freedom, supported by the community they found in Prairie du Chien, highlighting their resilience and strength.
About ABHM Book Club:
America’s Black Holocaust Museum’s founder, Dr. James Cameron, was an avid reader and inspiring writer and educator. To this day, he is the only known survivor of a lynching to write and publish a memoir about such an experience. We have created this book club program in his honor. You can sign up for our book club and see past selections at www.abhmuseum.org.
The ABHM Book Club is free and open to all who are able to attend, although the books will need to be purchased by each participant. You can purchase a copies from Milwaukee’s independent booksellers, such as @boswellbookco , @nichebookbarllc , and @lionstoothmke. If you are having trouble finding a copy, please email admin@abhmuseum.org.