Record #:

6867

Author(s):

Wilson, Steven

Abstract:

George Moses Horton was the first African-American slave to voice a protest of his bondage in poetical form. Born in Northampton County, Horton, when he was around three years of age, was moved to Chatham County, where he worked his master's farm. He taught himself to read, but did not learn to write until he was an adult. Wilson discusses Horton's early attempts at composing poetry; his encounters with students at the university at Chapel Hill, for whom he composed acrostics and poems for 25 to 75 cents; his coming to the attention of novelist Caroline Hentz, who became his patron; his eventual freedom; and his books of poetry.

Source:

Our State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 72 Issue 5, Oct 2004, p42-44, 46, 48, il

Subject(s):

Horton, George Moses, 1797-1883