Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story of The Underground Railroad

by Ellen Levine

“Henry Brown wasn’t sure how old he was. Henry was a slave. And slaves weren’t allowed to know their birthdays.”

The emotional, true story of Henry’s journey from enslavement to freedom. We meet Henry as a young, enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More boy dreaming of freedom and watch as he is repeatedly separated from the people he loves. Eventually he finds the courageDoing something even when you know it will be hard. More and help needed to escape.

Story read aloud

purchase the book

Talk About It

• Before you begin reading & discussing this book, take time to read the article Writing & Teaching About Slavery in order to understand the best language to use. For example, instead of repeatedly calling it slaverySee enslaved. More, it is more accurate to say enslavement.
• If your family has never talked about enslavement, spend some time introducing this period in our country’s history. It’s important to be honest about how unacceptable this was; the ways in which our country was built & benefited from the forced labor of others; the privileges White people still experience as a result of this early history; and the ways in which Black people are still dealing with the residual effects of enslavement. (Visit our resource page Learn More About It: Enslavement & the Path to Juneteenth.)
• When we first see Henry talk about the fact that he is a child, just like your child. He has parents, possibly siblings, who love him and felt such joy the moment he was born. Together they laugh, sing, love, etc; just like your family. Think together of more characteristics you likely share with this family. Then explain that because of the actions of White men and women who thought they had the right to own and control people, this family (and so many others) were either taken from their home country or born into a family already enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More. Be honest about the fact that they were not treated as human beings, but as objects. How would you feel if this happened to our family and there was nothing we could do to stop it?
• How do you think it made Henry feel to not know his exact age and not be allowed to celebrate his birthday? How would this make you feel? What thoughts do you think it puts in his head about his value as a person? Why do you think enslavers did not want the enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More to know their exact age?
• Have you heard the word “master?” Do you think it’s okay for one person to have control over another? Explain that today we call such people “enslavers,” because it reminds us that these people made an active choice to force and control human beings. Do you think that was a good choice?
• The book notes that Henry’s “master had been good” to his family. What do you think that means? Talk with your child about how wrong it is and what it makes you feel that a person’s well-being relied solely upon the choices and behaviors of someone who thought it was okay to buy a human being.
• Have you ever heard about the fact that children were often taken from their families and sold to other enslavers as part of enslavement? What do you think about this? While difficult, take the time to think together about the fact that your child would have been safe simply because they were born caucasian. Talk about how this makes you feel.
• What would it be like to have to be given freedom as opposed to being born with it? Talk about the fear and anxiety this would cause. Ask questions about what you think it would do to someone’s self-esteem.
• What do you think Henry was thinking and feeling when he learned that he was being “given” away? What was his mother thinking and feeling?
• Take the time to really look at the picture of Henry and his family as they say goodbye. Point to different people in the image and notice their expressions. Ask your child what they think each person is thinking and feeling. (This is so important as part of really emphasizing that we are talking about human beings and not just history.)
• Do you think it should ever have been okay to beat someone for making a mistake? Why do you think the enslavers did this? Talk to your child about the fact that this was done as a way to keep the enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More afraid. It was also done because they were not viewed as humans. They were not seen as having the same thoughts, feelings, and capabilities as a White person. What do you think about that? What if I told you there were still people today who believe that they are better, smarter, more deserving, etc simply because they are White? Name this as prejudiceCreating ideas about someone we do not know based upon something like skin color or gender. Prejudices are generally negative. More and racist thinking.
• When Henry meets Nancy he feels like singing. Why do you think he felt that way? Can you imagine having a song in your head and not being allowed to sing it because it would be breaking a law….all because of the color of your skin?
• Notice together how much of Henry and Nancy’s ability to build a life together is dependent on the choices of their enslavers. What do you think that must have felt like?
• What does it make you feel to learn that Nancy is worried her children might be sold? You should relate this fear and anxiety to the fact that Black mothers continue to have to cope with constant feelings of worry about the way society, especially police, view and treat Black girls and boys as they grow up. Ask what your child thinks about this?
• The moment Henry learns that his wife and children have been sold and then sees them being carted away is emotional and intense for the reader. Allow your family to sit in this discomfort and talk about it. You may need to lead the discussion by being honest about how this makes you feel. Try to express the complexity of your emotions, including sadness and anger. Ask your child what they are feeling. Then talk about the fact that your feelings are tiny in comparison to what this must have been like for Henry and all the other families this happened to over the course of hundreds of years. Also highlight that because of these forced separations there are generations of Black Americans that have a hard time tracing their family heritage.
• Ask your child to imagine wanting your freedom so much that you were willing to risk your life to get it. Explain that it isn’t just about the risks of putting yourself inside a crate where breathing can be much harder, but about the fact that if you got caught your enslaverThe correct way to talk about someone who owned slaves. It was a choice to believe it was okay to own and poorly treat another human being. More would have the right to kill you.
• Have you ever heard of oil of vitriol? Explain that’s its a kind of acid that burns the skin. Ask your child if they can imagine choosing to burn themselves? Talk about that for many enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More, the pain of a physical injury was nothing compared to the emotional pain they experienced every day, as well as the possibility of finally being free.
• Can your child imagine going on a journey like Henry? What do you think helped keep Henry calm and focused during the long trip to Philadelphia?
• What do you think Henry was thinking and feeling when he finally realized he was free? What must it have felt like to finally have a birthday to call his own?
• As you close the book ask your child what they thought of the story and the experience of so many enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More. Have an honest discussion about whether your ancestors were enslavers. Share the reasons you know this is not okay and what, if anything, your family has done to make reparationsThe process of making things right for something wrong you have done.  This often looks like paying money or finding other ways to help those you have hurt. This term is often talked about in thinking of how to make things right for ancestors of those who were enslaved. More.

Explore More

• Take the time to learn more about enslavement. You can find resources for kids by going to Learn More About It: Enslavement & the Path to Juneteenth.
• Learn more about Henry “Box” Brown. Check out: Henry Box Brown Biography Rap Song; One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom; or Henry “Box” Brown Biography.
• Explain to your child how the enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More would place “information wanted” ads to try to find members of their family. Visit Information Wanted to learn more. Think about signing up as a volunteer to help transcribe documents in order to preserve their history.
• Spend some time beginning to learn about people in the fight to end enslavement and helped create and sustain the underground railroadA set of secret routes, homes, and places to hide used to help the enslaved escape from the southern states to northern states and Canada. More, such as Harriet Tubman. You can watch videos like Harriet Tubman Story; Harriet Tubman for Kids; or Top 10 Interesting Facts About Harriet Tubman. See what questions or discussions come up and where this can lead your family next in understanding more about this period in our history.
• For additional reading, check out the books recommended on Slavery, Resistance, and Reparations.
• Spend time talking as a family about the fact that while formal enslavement ended with the passing of the 13th amendment, this did not mean that forced labor and the mistreatment of Black Americans ended. Be honest about the ways, even today, our society makes negative assumptions about Black people based solely on skin color and the consequences this can have. For helpful articles and videos check out our resource: Learn More About It: Race and Racism.