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Lewis Leary was born into freedom on the lucky day of March 17, 1835, but growing up in North Carolina as a free Black man, he soon realized that his privilege could not shield him from the harsh realities of a society where people with his skin color were treated as property. Despite his privileged upbringing, Lewis was drawn to the plight of the slaves and was determined to make a difference.
Through his friendship with Luke, a slave who worked on the family property, Lewis learned to take his privilege with a grain of salt and ultimately decided to leave the South and settle in the Free State of Ohio, where the Anti-Slavery movement was at its peak. In Oberlin, a diverse town where Lewis and his best friend John Copeland became involved in the fight against slavery, Lewis was able to put his ideals into action as a freedom fighter and skilled underground railroad conductor.
However, as much as Lewis had accomplished in his fight against slavery, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was not doing enough to fight the system as a whole. It wasn't until he met the famous abolitionist John Brown that Lewis reached the pinnacle of what he felt he could do to end slavery in the country. Together, they journeyed to Harpers Ferry, where they became part of a moment in American history that would ultimately lead to the Civil War.
"Shackles of a Freeman" is a gripping and thought-provoking historical fiction novel that brings to light the sacrifices and bravery of those who fought against slavery in the 1850s. Through Lewis Leary's journey, the reader will be transported back in time and experience the struggles and triumphs of the Anti-Slavery movement, making this a captivating and inspiring read for audiences of all backgrounds.
