Aspects of Slavery and Freedom Seeking in North Carolina
Wind-Captivity, Fugitivity, and Anti-Slavery Activity
In a world characterized by various indigenous and European influences, traditional history tells us that the enslaved Africans who arrived in North America came with some form of spiritual beliefs. Upon examining the varied pathways taken by enslaved Africans in the western region of North Carolina it is clear how the enslaved exercised their right to freedom.
The chapter surveys how they persevered through their abiding faith, strength, courage, and wisdom. As the years passed, African Americans’ religiosity evolved and matured under the firm belief that God would alleviate their suffering and they would receive salvation as a reward for their faithfulness.
They would have their revenge against their masters. Personal testimonies document how African Americans cultivated tangential relationships with members of the Society of Friends in Guilford County despite state law and unending repression. The latter were vehemently opposed to slavery based on its immorality. As more frequent encounters with African Americans exposed the harsh realities of the brutality of slavery, Quakers’ antislavery fervor increased.