Chapter 26: Important Era In My Brother’s Life

Chapter 26

Important Era In My Brother’s Life

Summary: William went with his master, Mr. Sands to Washington and regularly sent letters to his sister Linda talking about his journey and such. However the letters abruptly stopped coming and Linda started to wonder what happened to him. Mr. Sands told Linda that he ran away with abolitionists when he returned after getting married, but it was revealed that William actually escaped on his own.

Importance: William finally became truly free in this chapter. Being Mr. Sands' slave might have been better than being one for someone else, but it still wasn't the same as being completely free. William knew this and needed no convincing from abolitionists; escaping under his own free will.

Connection to Theme: Although he was not treated badly as Mr. Sands' slave, just the fact that he was still a slave served as a source of psychological abuse for him. It still made him feel lower than the white man and degraded him as well as emasculate him. He felt that it was only through his freedom that he would be released from it.