Judge’s true breaking point is the discovery that Martha plans to give Judge as a wedding gift to her temperamental granddaughter, Eliza. Dunbar also explains how the Washingtons engaged in a complicated shuffling process of moving their slaves around every six months to avoid the law in Philadelphia that would emancipate their slaves after six months’ residence.Īs Judge grows older and becomes more aware of her situation, Dunbar includes descriptions of free Blacks in Philadelphia and a growing abolitionist movement in the North that ultimately helps persuade Judge to run away. Judge becomes a personal slave to Martha, serving her every whim and subject to her tempestuous behavior.Īs George becomes president and the family (and their slaves) move first to New York and then to Philadelphia, Dunbar weaves in additional stories about Judge’s family members, other “prized” slaves of the Washington family, and friends of the Washingtons, creating a picture of life for a slave in the late 1700s and the pitfalls they navigated under America’s early leadership. For much of the book, Judge’s story is the Washingtons’ story: Judge’s life is dictated completely by their rules, personalities, and movements. Dunbar first sets the scene for Judge’s arrival, describing the lives of slaves at Mount Vernon (particularly Judge’s mother, Betty) and introducing George and Martha Washington.
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