Jane's Freedom: Self-Liberation in New Orleans

Jane's Freedom: Self-Liberation in New Orleans

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Jane’s Freedom follows Jane, an enslaved woman in 1846 New Orleans, whose wit and quiet defiance make her both a target and a survivor. Haunted by the loss of her son and her master’s punishments, she works the city’s marketplaces, glimpsing both the grind of slavery and hints of possibility. With help from a free Black sailor, Jane plots escape—leveraging her skills in French, sewing, and trading to secure passage on a riverboat. But danger stalks her: her master hunts her, rivals betray her, and even allies warn her courage borders on recklessness. In the end, Jane learns freedom is not granted but seized, no matter the cost. Through her eyes, the comic illuminates urban slavery, strategies of resistance, and the spirit of marronage burning within the city. After reading this book, you will know how enslaved people in urban settings resisted oppression, built networks of survival, and navigated the perilous path toward freedom.