Stepping onto Free Land

Category: Residence

Write a journal entry describing your feelings as you step into Canada and you become a free person.

I was laying in my hiding spot feeling the movement of the boat and counting every time the boat rose and fell. Everytime the boat rose and fell I knew that I was one wave closer to my freedom. All of a sudden the boat began to slow down and then it stopped. My heart began to race. Was it the slave traders? Have they come to search the ship? Would they find me? Footsteps began to approach and as they got closer and closer I tried to make myself as small as I could in my hiding spot and not make any noise. Then I heard the captain say "A friend with friends". The safe code word and I uncurled myself and opened up the door to my hiding spot. The first thing I saw was the smile on the captain's face. It was a smile to end all smiles. It was so magnificant that it jumped from the Captain's face to mine. He said to me "Walk off this ship and you will be a free man". He guided me off the ship and onto the soil. I looked around. I didn't feel any differently so how did I know I was free. Then I saw black men and women dressed in fine clothing and no shackles and I realized that I would never be whipped again. I would never be forced to do something and I would never be hunted like an animal again. The feeling of freedom entered my body and I felt like I could float off of the ground. At the same time my body felt so heavy that my knees wanted to give away and tears began to course down my face. I looked at the Captain and I didn't know what to say but my eyes must have said it all because he gave me a hug and sent me to the man waiting for me. I am free!