Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom

The Crafts are due to make their first appearance in Boston. Brown writes a letter and submits it for publishing, detailing the Crafts’ story with a few details changed to keep their identities safe. This letter is republished around the country, drawing the attention of the man with the pocket watch who had been suspicious of Mr. Johnson. By publishing his own statement, the man unwittingly supported the Crafts’ endeavor by confirming their story. Brown uses his oratory skills to prepare the audience for William and Ellen. When they take the stage, the crowd is aghast. Ellen’s light skin is shocking to white audiences who perceive slavery as the plight of those who do not look like themselves. They are an instant success, and their careers as lecturers and activists begin in earnest.

William and Ellen are transferred from home to home, kept safe by their new friends. In Boston, they find refuge, but they are determined to continue to share their story. At Faneuil Hall in Boston, the Crafts prepare to lecture at the 17th annual convention of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. The convention is divided, with some advocating for peaceful measures of protest and others claiming that it is time to act with force.