Welcome to Litsy!

This is the story of Ona Judge, a woman enslaved by our first president (alongside A LOT of others) who found her way to freedom and stayed free for the rest of her life. Not only is it well written with a superb audio reader (💙 Robin Miles!), it emphasizes some of our history that certain people would rather we not know. I can‘t think of a better reason to read it right now.

Dunbar discovered an advert in the archives from Pres. George Washington, offering a reward for the return of a fugitive enslaved woman - a woman whose testimony would decades later be taken down in two abolitionist newspapers. Between research on Ona and the experiences of other enslaved people, Dunbar rebuilds a biography around a young woman to root for - and again smashes the persistent lie of the good slave owner.

Really fascinating story. Ona was incredible. And it's a very different and important angle on the Washingtons than the usual.

Still reading Never Caught #bookspin…..about 40% done. Here‘s a picture from my day yesterday! Amazing photo by my friend Patrice Hatcher!

Starting this today- any of my friends read this before? I‘d love to hear your thoughts. #newcoffeecup

I think it‘s really important that we look at the full history of this nation and see our founding fathers for the fallible human beings they were. Yes, Washington was our first President and led the revolution to victory. He also was an unapologetic slaver and white supremacist. This book examines his attachment to slavery through the story of one of his escaped slaves and how he would even circumvent the law to keep human beings in bondage.

20 books. 15 physical, 5 audio (the slips of paper). Focus: Black authorship, Black narratives, BIWOC, slavers & the enslaved in Virginia. I have chosen to revamp my #bookspin list entirely because I have a lot to learn right now. I am trying to research the family of an enslaved ancestor and give her a rightful chance at her own narrative. So I‘ve got to learn about the lives of enslaved Black women in the US. #BLM #ownvoices

Setting up my June reading list using a few of Justina Ireland‘s recommendations. Link to her thread in case you missed it: https://tinyurl.com/y9gygsqx

Fascinating look at a little known woman in American history. Ona Judge, slave to the Washington's, escaped and claimed her freedom. The Washington's were considered benevolent slave owners, but that did not make up for the overwhelming trauma slavery caused.
#blitsy #womenshistorymonth

Lots of good ebook deals today in the US stores!
#kindledeal

Managed to listen to this yesterday for the #24in48. This is a pick as I loved the subject matter but it took a while to get to Ona judge actually being in the run and making a new life for herself. That part fascinating. It‘s a pick but not a strong pick which is a pity as I really wanted to love not just like this one.

Was at work when #24in48 started but I‘m going to go to bed whilst listening to this to try and catch up on some reading.

I'm always trying to read history not taught in school. The story of Ona Judge, who escaped slavery in the household of George Washington, gives another aspect of the founding of the U.S. This isn't as action-packed as the subtitle implies and there's quite a bit of speculation by the author, but it was a worthwhile read. Robin Miles is a great narrator. #nonfictionnovember

📖 Never Caught

🖋 Trevor Noah

🎞 Napoleon Dynamite

🍑 Nectarine

#manicmonday @JoScho

In school I learned almost exclusively white perspective history. When I heard about the founding fathers owning slaves it was through the racist myth of “benevolent slaveholder.”

Based on Ona Judge‘s personal account, as well as historical documents of the time, this fascinating account of life as a slave with the Washingtons, and Judge‘s escape, is an important and too often overlooked part of our history.

#crossculturalstories

1. Tea helps me center.
2. My friend‘s mini concert on the harp. My friend plays for people in hospice and she has an amazing gift for soothing souls.
3. I love dairy, but I‘m allergic. I get so sick that it‘s not even worth it anymore.
4. 😔😢😠😡🤬🙌👏
5. Nope. My sister broke so many bones as a kid that I didn‘t feel the need 😉.

Another ebook checkout success! The author really explains what the enslaved people would think and react. I feel like I would hate that if my mood was the slightest bit different.

Fascinating and a quarter of the ebook is notes! I will check those out in print though.

#nonfiction

Hmmm...reminds me of what happened to my father when he sailed to South Africa when he was in Greek Merchant Marines during the 1970s...

#blacksailors

I really enjoyed this - I also felt like I learned more than just the story of George Washington's runaway slave, Ona Judge. #audio

Is there anything better than buying books when on vacation? Well, yeah, I guess winning the lottery or having Idris Elba deliver your room service, but book buying is in the top 5 and is the most likely thing to actually happen.

Ona Judge was a slave owned by Martha Washington, until one day Judge simply vanished from the house. What transpires after that shows how dedicated the Washingtons were to getting Judge back. Dunbar discusses slavery in the late 18th century, as well as the changing political climate towards slavery and servitude.

A very important read. So glad I read this, though there were parts that felt very repetitive. #SebastianKitty #catsoflitsy

Starting this tonight. Why do I get the feeling I‘ll probably yell at the book at some point?

The difficulty in researching history of WOC in US history is sadly, there are few direct sources from which to pull. That said I think the author did the best she could with what's available. This book gives good insight into the lives of both enslaved people and free Blacks during the 1700s. I thought the narrator was great and ultimately I think I liked this more on audio than I would have in print.

Currently Reading: not quite a 3rd finished but so far this is excellent. I really hope more people read this and reconsider the pedestal GW has been put on (can we stop calling them founders and call them colonizers & slaveholders already?). The lengths the Washington‘s go to to not only capture runaways but also to circumvent new laws promising freedom are appalling. Not surprising but terrible nonetheless. #audiobook

I liked the book but there was not enough meat to Ona's history. There was too much speculation, imagining of possible scenarios, and "perhaps." It is an important story to be told and we as a country need to know our real history. The Washingtons enslaved people and those human beings deserve to be remembered. I was sad that it is not possible to have the complete story of the courage and character of Ona Judge Staines.

Interesting, easy read.

Illuminating look at the attitudes toward slavery during Washington‘s time and from Washington himself. Ona was a marvel.

There were lots of interesting facts about the time period and about the Washington family. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the style of writing. There were a number of times I felt the author was assuming what Ona was thinking and feeling. They were generally safe assumptions but I wish it had been phrased differently. Overall, a interesting book and I would recommend it to young adults especially.

It's finally #silent in our home. All the kids are tucked in bed and the Eagles have won the Super Bowl. I am trying out my new book light while hubby sleeps away. #ReadingResolutions @Jess7

Fascinating history that rarely gets much attention. Even Chernow's thorough biography of Washington only gets into part of this story.

Good read, and one not flattering of the Washingtons, esp Mrs. Also it provides detail on what an enslaved person‘s life was like, and the often heartbreaking ramifications of the few choices they could make. And hearing Ona‘s story makes you realize all the other histories that have been lost due to enslavement. Eye-opening.

#morningcommute

When your family asks for your Amazon #wishlist and you realize the only items in there are books. #noteworthynovember #booksarethebestgifts #mylististenbookslong #sorrynotsorry

It seems that there really isn‘t that much known about Ona Judge, which leads to a lot of “she would have” done or felt a certain way. Also, the few letters written over a few years and a couple of visits to negotiate with her to return hardly seemed like a “relentless pursuit”. On the up side, this book gives a lot of great historical information on how enslaved people navigated the laws and their lives in the early days of the country.

I have this crazy idea to read all the books from the National Book Award short lists for fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I‘m trying to finish by the end of the year, so starting this non-fiction book today along with this poetry collection. Adding the other book too because it‘s almost Halloween, and I need a ghost story.

I loved this book. It is a thoroughly enjoyable (and quick) read. The story of the escape of Ona Judge Staines is remarkable. I also really enjoyed the portrait of antebellum African-American life as well as the winding down of institutional slavery in the north (e.g. Did you know that New Hampshire, the live free or die state, didn‘t officially abolish slavery until 1857?)

Library haul! I cannot believe how short their waitlists were!

I really wanted to like this book, the topic was fascinating, but I just couldn't. The author kept interjecting opinion into the historical narrative and that really bothered me. I think it's ok to say there is no evidence and then either move on or pull evidence from a similar situation and discuss how that evidence support your idea. Not to just put words/emotions into a historical persons mouth. 0/5 stars

This was an excellent read...and after just visiting the National Museum of African American History in Washington, DC last weekend it was timely for me. (I think every white American should be required to visit, fwiw) Hard to feel any misty-eyed patriotism about our first president after reading this.

Great read! The thing I disliked about the book was the Dunbar guessed a lot about different parts of Judge's life.

A must-read for American History enthusiasts, especially those with an interest in George Washington's life beyond wartime and the presidency. Engagingly written, the author follows the life of Mount Vernon house slave Ona Judge and her escape from slavery.

Had a fantastic time hearing Erica Armstrong Dunbar talk about her new book - about one of Martha Washington's slaves who ran away during their time in Philly, and lived as a fugitive for the next 50+ years.

Oh wow, do I ever need to know a lot more about this!

http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/03/14/ona-judge-george-washington

I wanted to love this book mostly because the underlying story is so compelling. It definitely gives a different view of The Washingtons. The problem with the book was the actual writing. I know there is limited info on Ona. But there was too much theorizing and too much of stating the obvious: Ona would rather be free in poverty instead of being a house slave. Unfortunately this premise was stated every few pages. I got it the first time.

Fascinating history about George and Martha Washington's runaway slave and GW's 3-year attempt to get her back, even if by illegal means. Dunbar describes what life in the free north was like fora slave and the Washingtons' financial and political concerns. https://cannonballread.com/2017/03/an-unsung-american-hero/

Excited to started this book and learn about the story of Ona Judge. Hoping this keeps my attention as it's been difficult for me to get completely thru books lately. Could be because I'm impatient and there are so many good ones in my possession right now between my library hauls, book clubs and tbr! #thestruggleisreal