We Come From A Line Of Sacred Magicians

“He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (VOICE). 

Our enslaved ancestors were magicians. They perfected the art of escape so when it was time to run, they could hide in plain sight.

Harriet Tubman had all sorts of tricks up her sleeve. Making roughly 13 rescue missions, Tubman used astrology, herbalism, disguises, coded messages, and her understanding of nature as part of her escape strategies. 

Then there was “Henry ‘Box’ Brown,” an enslaved man who became a legend when he had himself shipped by rail in a box marked “dry goods” from North Carolina to freedom in Philadelphia.

In her book “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” Tricia Hersey reminds us that the art of escape has always been a part of our Black liberation toolkit. 

Our ancestors' escape plans involved creative genius, spiritual warfare, and the power of Black love, which, when combined, created the smoke and mirrors of protection. 

Even though they knew in their spirits that they were liberated, faith in escape allowed our enslaved ancestors to believe physical freedom was possible. 

Bible verses like 1 Corinthians 10:13 recognize the art of escape as liberation from difficult circumstances.

Devoting ourselves to our escape practices permits us to imagine new physical and spiritual pathways that lead us closer to Black liberation.