Thursday, February 21

Storyteller Eva Abram will share the history of one of the few documented cases of slavery in our state’s history. Charles Mitchell, who was born a slave, was brought to Washington Territory in 1853. A tempest was building and citizens all over the state had opinions about a possible Civil War, influencing their opinions about Mitchell’s status as a slave. In this climate, Mitchell made a break for freedom – and his actions nearly started a war between the U.S. and Canada. Through this story, we will examine how ideologies move geographically. The migration to Washington attracted Americans with different socioeconomic experiences from both Northern and Southern states. Did moving to Washington affect peoples’ opinions on slavery?