About This Book

Many unsung heroes fought in the war against slavery from colonial times to the Emancipation Proclamation. The story of the abolitionists has been told, but the leaders of the slave revolts have often been forgotten by history.

Nat Turner, in 1831, led the longest slave revolt in history. In 1839, Cinque, a young African captive, led the revolt on the slave ship the Amistad and was defended before the Supreme Court by former President John Quincy Adams. Between 1672 and 1854, Maroons, slaves who revolted by running away, set up their own hidden communities in the South. They fearlessly waged guerilla warfare against other slave owners.

These stirring, inspirational voices finally need to be heard, not to glorify violence but to pay tribute to people who fought and often died for their inalienable rights — true freedom fighters.

With their signature style of meticulous research and exciting, heartfelt depictions of historical events, Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack bring new insight to the story of the fight for emancipation. These are truly unforgettable moments in American history.

"A fine contribution to a growing body of literature about the African-American experience." — School Library Journal

About the Authors or Illustrators

Fredrick McKissack

Fredrick McKissack is a writer whose collaboration with his wife, author Patricia McKissack, has led to the publication of several award-winning titles, including their 2003 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Days of Jubilee.

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Patricia McKissack

Full-time writer, Patricia McKissack and her husband Fredrick L. McKissack have written over one hundred books about the African-American experience.

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