Girl in Black and White: The Story of Mary Mildred Williams and the Abolition Movement

William G. McGowan Theater
Washington, DC

In 1855, after her family won its freedom, seven-year-old Mary Mildred Williams joined Senator Charles Sumner in a series of sold-out lectures as evidence that slavery knew no bounds. After being photographed, Mary unexpectedly became the face of American slavery: America’s first poster child. Why? As author Jessie Morgan-Owens relates in her book, Girl in Black and White, this former slave girl looked “white.” A book signing follows the program.