Jenny Slew was part of a scandal, but she didn’t have any control over her own involvement. As a free Black woman, she was minding her business at her own home when something awful happened.
An armed white man kidnapped her and forced her into slavery! Not only was this a direct violation of her body – but even in 1762, it was also against the law.
Slew decided to reveal her circumstances and take her captor to court! But it wasn’t that simple.
She had to fight hard to get her day in court. Her case was dismissed on a technicality at first. But after appealing that decision, she finally had her case heard by a jury. Face-to-face with the white thief who stole her freedom, her lawyer presented her case.
And she won! Because she was born to a free woman, she, too, was a free woman. Her captor even had to pay her! Case closed.
Slew won her freedom and her deceitful kidnapper was sent home empty-handed. Other Black women soon followed suit – and won their freedom, too!
Despite the system she was up against, Slew refused to be treated as property. Her legal victory was amazing, but her refusal to accept oppression and to fight exhaustively for her freedom inspires us to continue our own fight for equality. Never give up!