Leonard Black facts for kids

Leonard Black (born March 8, 1820 – died April 28, 1883) was born into slavery in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was separated from his family when he was only six years old. After 20 years, he bravely escaped slavery.

In 1847, he wrote a book called The Life and Sufferings of Leonard Black: A Fugitive from Slavery. With help and encouragement, he became a Baptist minister. He preached in cities like Boston, Providence, and Nantucket. Later, he became the minister of the First Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia.

Leonard Black was married two times. His first wife was Mary A. Black. They had five children together. Mary A. Black passed away sometime after 1850. Her father, George Black, was also a Baptist minister. He helped Leonard after his escape. Leonard's second wife was Mary Anne Wheeden. They had two children.

Early Life

Leonard Black was the youngest of five boys. He also had one sister. His family's owner was a doctor. When Leonard was six, he was sold to a carpenter named Bradford. This meant he was separated from his parents and siblings. His mother and sister were sold to people in New Orleans. His four brothers were also sent to live with other people.

Mr. Bradford's wife, Mrs. Bradford, was very unkind to him. After two years, Mr. Bradford gave Leonard to his own father, an older Mr. Bradford. Leonard worked for him until the elder Mr. Bradford died.

Leonard was treated very badly and often didn't get enough food. He had very few belongings. He once said he had "no hat, no pantaloons, but one pair of shoes." He felt like he was "owned like a cow or horse."

When Leonard was 13, the elder Mr. Bradford died. Leonard became the property of Mr. Bradford's daughter, Elizabeth Bradford. She was married to a man named Gardner, who had a quick temper. Leonard continued to face hunger and harsh treatment. He was even beaten for trying to learn to read books.

Later, Leonard returned to his "old master" and met his four brothers again. The three oldest brothers ran away soon after. About six months later, Leonard also tried to run away. But he was caught and brought back. He spent about ten more years in slavery. His brother Nicholas stayed in slavery with him. Sometimes, a kind preacher, who was the owner's son, would help make things a little better. Leonard found strength in stories from the Bible. He became a Christian in 1836.

Finding Freedom

Life in Maine

In 1837, after 20 years of being enslaved, Leonard decided to escape. He wanted to go north to find his three brothers. He thought they might be in Boston, Massachusetts, or Canada. He believed his friend Henry would help him. But Henry told Leonard's master that he had escaped.

Leonard left with only 75 cents and the clothes he was wearing. He traveled to Boston, doing small jobs to earn money for food. He worked hard to avoid being caught. In Boston, he heard about a man named George Black. He was a Baptist minister from the West Indies. Leonard went to Portland, Maine, to find him. He learned that George Black was not related to him.

However, George Black and his family were very kind. Mrs. Black treated him like a mother. Leonard became close to their daughter. They made clothes for him, and he went to school to learn to read and write. In the spring, he worked for a farmer named Major Purley. He then returned to Portland, lived with George Black's family, and worked as an engineer at a steam factory.

Moving to Boston

George Black and his family later moved to Boston. George became the minister of the African Meeting House on Belknap Street. Leonard went with them. George was the minister there from 1838 to 1840.

Family and Church Work

From 1840 to 1856

In Boston

By 1840, Leonard Black married George Black's daughter. They lived with George in Boston. They also lived at the home of David Walker, who worked to end slavery, on Joy Street. Leonard and his wife had five children. One of their children died when they were young. Leonard worked at the wharfs (docks) and became a member of the Belknap Street church.

In Providence

After five years in Boston, Leonard moved to Providence, Rhode Island. He studied with Francis Wayland, who was the president of Brown University. Leonard became an active member and student at the Meetinghouse Street Church. This church was a Baptist Church led by Rev. Jeremiah Ashur. Leonard was asked to preach one Sunday because he was known for speaking in Boston.

He started working as a stone mason. His family then joined him in Providence. He later operated a canal boat from Providence to Woonsocket. During one trip, he was seriously hurt. A horse stumbled, fell on him, and cut his face. He was brought home to his wife, who was sick and pregnant. Since he couldn't work, people in the community, including President Wayland, brought food to his family while he recovered.

In Nantucket

After his accident, Leonard was determined to become a preacher. He traveled to Nantucket with a letter of recommendation from two preachers in Providence. He preached at the York Street Baptist Church for several weeks.

Writing His Story

In 1847, Leonard Black wrote his book, The Life and Sufferings of Leonard Black: A Fugitive from Slavery. He wrote it to show Christians what slavery was truly like. He hoped his book would help end slavery and free his fourth brother. He also hoped to earn enough money to continue his religious studies. His book included a poem and an essay about slavery.

He wrote about slavery:

The slaves are taught ignorance as we teach our children knowledge. They are kept in darkness, and are borne down under a cruel, cruel oppression! All human rights are denied them as citizens! They are not recognized as men! [...] Born, like the white man, to an individual responsibility to the Father of mercies, the treatment of the white man to the poor African, unmixed with mercy, has curtained his mind to all knowledge, aye, even to the knowledge of the God of heaven and earth, and thus removed from him the accountability! But, where does this terrible accountability rest? Let the hardened slave-tyrant, when he stands quivering before the Almighty bar of retribution, answer this question! Well might Thomas Jefferson remark, when his deep, penetrating mind was reflecting upon the stupendous wrongs of slavery, "I tremble for my country, when I remember that God is just, and that his justice cannot slumber forever." I appeal, then, to every rational, intelligent mind, if slavery be not an abomination in the sight of the Lord.

Church Work in Stonington and Brooklyn

In 1850, Leonard Black was a Baptist minister at the Third Stonington Church in Stonington, Connecticut. There were 26 students in Sunday School and 29 adult members. Before he left in 1851, the number of members almost doubled to 59. He then got a job at the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, New York, in 1851. But he left soon after. This was because of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This law said that escaped slaves had to be returned to their owners.

In 1855, Black was the minister of the Third Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This church had been formed one year earlier and had 40 members.

From 1860 to 1872

In 1860, Leonard Black and his wife Mary Ann lived in New York. Their children Elizabeth, Lydia, Charles, Georgiana, and Mary were living nearby. Their ages ranged from 5 to 18. In 1870, Leonard was married to Mary Ann and living in New Haven, Connecticut. Their children Charles, Georgiana, and Anna, aged 14 to 22, were with them. Ten years later, Leonard was still married to Mary Ann. She was born around 1835 in St. Thomas.

In 1872, Rev. Leonard Black was the Vice President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention. He was living in Norfolk at that time.

From 1873 to 1883

Leonard Black moved to Virginia. In 1873, he became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia. This church was also known as Harrison Street Church. During his time there, he helped the church's membership double. It grew from 1900 to 3600 people. He preached there until he passed away.

In 1882, Leonard Black was interviewed. A story about his life was written based on that interview.

Death

Leonard Black died on April 28, 1883. More than 5,000 people attended his memorial service. It was one of the largest funerals ever held in Petersburg. On the day of his funeral, every store that employed a Black person closed. Within months of his death, money was raised for a stone monument. It had a bas-relief portrait to mark his burial site. This site is now called People's Memorial Cemetery in Petersburg.