Hammering for Freedom

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Hammering for Freedom book cover

Hammering for Freedom is a children's book about an enslaved man named William Lewis, who became a skilled blacksmith at a young age and was able to save enough coins to buy his freedom. Released in 2018, the book is written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and illustrated by John Holyfield.

Plot

The book tells a true story of William “Bill” Lewis, a man born into slavery who wouldn’t rest until his whole family was free. Bill and his family were enslaved in Tennessee, where they worked long days in Col. Lewis’ fields. Bill was still a young boy when Col. Lewis decided to make him a blacksmith, and Bill became very good at it. Col. Lewis rented him out, a common practice, and started letting Bill keep some of the money. Bill saved his coins and decided to ask Col. Lewis to let him rent himself. Col. Lewis agreed, for a large yearly fee. Bill paid the fee and opened his own blacksmith shop, becoming the first African-American blacksmith in Chattanooga. He worked long days and saved his money, with a goal in mind. Over time, he bought his wife’s freedom, and then their son’s, and then, one by one, the rest of his family’s. The text skillfully includes details about laws governing the lives of enslaved people (Bill travels with a white escort; he buys his wife’s freedom first so that their future children will be born free) while keeping readers hooked through every step of Bill’s plan.[1]

Impact

The determination and tenacity of Bill Lewis is indescribable. In a society designed to hold him down, he managed to find a way forward to freedom. Hubbard makes sure that readers understand how unusual this arrangement was and how gifted Lewis was as a blacksmith. The text keeps the story of Lewis’ life focused and well paced. It is a very readable biography.

The illustrations are rich and luminous. The sharing of emotions and holding emotions back play visibly on the page, demonstrating how much had to be hidden and not disclosed in order to purchase freedom. It also shows in a very clear way how limited that freedom was.[2] This is a beautiful book about breaking the chains of slavery; and, the endurance and perseverance of black families.[3]

References

  1. Kirkus Review. Hammering For Freedom. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.
  2. Tasha (2018). REVIEW: HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM BY RITA LORRAINE HUBBARD. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.
  3. Dalton, Angela (2019). Children’s Book Review: Hammering for Freedom: The William Lewis Story. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.