Henry "Box" Brown was a prominent figure in Black history. He was born enslaved in Virginia in 1815 and worked as a tobacco worker. In 1849, Brown orchestrated a daring and ingenious escape from slavery by having himself shipped in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia.

Brown's escape was a remarkable and risky endeavor that required careful planning and courage. He spent 27 hours inside the cramped and dark box, enduring discomfort and fear, but ultimately emerged a free man when he reached Philadelphia. His story became widely known and he became a symbol of the resilience and determination of enslaved people seeking freedom.

After his escape, Brown became a prominent abolitionist and lecturer, using his own experience to speak out against slavery and advocate for the rights and freedom of Black people. He published a narrative of his escape titled "Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown," which helped to raise awareness about the brutality of slavery.

Henry "Box" Brown's story is a powerful example of the lengths to which enslaved people were willing to go in order to gain their freedom, as well as a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.