We’ve all heard the question, “why didn’t everyone enslaved run away?”
Truth is, escaping was easier said than done.
Runaways who permanently escaped often had advantages, like being able to read and write, which allowed them to forge “free papers” for their journey.
For those who did not have these advantages, their day-to-day lives became about developing covert methods of resistance. One method was becoming a short-term runaway.
Short-term runaways would escape for a few days, hiding in nearby woods or swamps. Some did this to avoid punishment, while others did this as a tactic for economic bargaining and demands for better treatment.
This tactic was used even after emancipation, we’ve just known it as another name. Striking.
There are numerous historical examples of our people striking successfully. However, even with a successful strike, often only a few demands are met.
This leaves us to navigate the same anti-Black system at large.
For the times they were living in, our enslaved ancestors' temporary protests were radical. Because of their fight, we have more power than they did.
As we reimagine what our protest efforts could look like, our demands must be louder, prouder, and bolder. Let’s no longer accept the “band-aid effect.” It’s time to stamp out anti-Blackness. Permanently.