There was no plantation that could hold down Madison Washington. One of the biggest factors that fueled his rebellious spirit was the love he had for a special someone.
Washington was a cook in the 1800s, and he escaped enslavement multiple times. His first time escaping, he planned for him and his wife to flee from Virginia to Canada. Washington managed to escape, but his wife didn’t. So, the Virginia native cooked up a plan to reunite with his wife.
“With the wages I can command here, it will take me not less than five years to obtain by my labor the amount sufficient to purchase the liberty of my dear Susan,” said Washington. He saved up money and was determined to buy his wife’s freedom. But there was no amount of planning that could prepare for what Washington had to endure next.
In his attempt to free his wife, Washington was captured and put on a slave ship. Fueled by love and determination, he led a historic revolt on that ship, and he and his wife found freedom in British territories.
Washington showed that his love drove his determination to be free by any means necessary. No matter who holds the key to your heart, romantic or otherwise, our love can be a powerful tool to fuel our fight for our liberation.