Freedom in Congo Square
Award winning non-fiction, History, United States history
Human-narrated audio
Summary
As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when, at least for half a day, they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. There,… they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. Chronicles the daily duties of such slaves--from chopping logs on Mondays, to baking bread on Wednesdays, to plucking hens on Saturday--and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. Capturing humanity's capacity to find hope and joy even in the most difficult of circumstances and demonstrating how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom's heart. 2017 Caldecott Honor Book. 2017 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Grades 2-4. 2017.