The Price Of Freedom

The Price Of Freedom

Picture book
The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up To Slavery by
Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin is one of those rare
picture books that will enchant quite the age span. The true story
coupled with Eric Velasquez' illustrations is truly riveting. The
theme it carries--that sometimes bad laws must be broken--will give
older kids (and hopefully parents) something to think about.
Back in slavery days the town of Oberlin, Ohio was a really busy
underground railroad stop. In church and college classroom citizens
and students were exhorted to ignore the infamous Fugitive Slave Act,
which empowered slave owners and their hired guns to capture runaways
even in free states, in favor of the higher law of right and wrong.
In 1858 they were put to the test.
John Price had lived there happily for two years. A slave
hunter sought ought a family who favored the act and bribed their son
to deceive John and deliver him to them. The picture where the slave
hunters ride up--the expressions on the faces of John and his
betrayer--is worth the proberbial thousand words. As John was taken
out of town he saw a student walking and shouted that he was being
kidnapped. He was sure he was not heard. This was very much not the
case. How a town banded together to fight for his freedom and
personhood is a must read--even for folks with no little ones in their
lives.
If there was ever a time The Price Of Freedom is relevant, it's
now. There still are slaves. Many of them are further away in third
world countries making cheap consumer goods. However, here in
America, can the increasing numbers of folks who work for such low pay
taxpayers subsidize their employers through food stamps and Medicaid
be truly considered free?
Just asking?
On a personal note, here in Maine we're enjoying some really nice
Indian summer days with temps going up into the 70's. Better enjoy
them while we can.
A great big shout out goes out to all who work to rescue today's slaves.
Julia Emily Hathaway


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