Audacious Escapes

"You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. He shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place that he shall choose within one of your towns, wherever it suits him. You shall not wrong him," says Deuteronomy 23:15-16 English Standard Version Bible. Many Native Americans may not have known the Bible, but they practiced this part of the Bible by sheltering African-American slaves who fled their slave masters searching for freedom in Native American communities.

Rafael and I love to travel to Florida. Before 1819 when Spain sold Florida to the United States of America, Florida was a popular place for runaway slaves to live among the Native Americans. African-American slaves and free people intermarried with Native Americans. The Seminoles consist of Native Americans, African Americans and people who are a mix of both Native Americans and African Americans.

John Horse was of mixed Native American and African-American heritage. Like others like him Horse played a role in Native-American leadership. John Horse and Wild Cat defeated an American army led by Colonel Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee. Later John Horse led a group of black Seminoles into Mexico where they were allowed to live in return for guarding the border against rustlers and bandits.

No matter if people are African, European, Asian, Latino or some mixture, God created people with a desire to be free. Sometimes we consider certain practices acceptable for other people that we would never consider acceptable for ourselves. Former US President Abraham Lincoln said, "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally." How many people really wish that their parents would have aborted them instead of allowing them to live? Gospel singer Fred Hammond's mom tried to abort him, but Hammond survived. Read his story and more in my article "Thoughts About Abortion."

Proverbs 11:27 Amplified Bible says, "He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him." President Lincoln said, "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy." Lincoln fought for his idea. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, encouraging border states to outlaw slavery. Lincoln helped push through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which finally freed all the slaves nationwide in December 1865.

Rafael and I would probably be slaves today if it were not for President Lincoln.

Not only African Americans but many would probably not be enjoying the freedoms we have today if it were not for President Lincoln. Lincoln led the United States through the American Civil War preserving the Union.

Many people have low expectations of people with mental illness, but Lincoln accomplished great things even while he battled periods of depression. Do we have a Federal, American holiday recognizing the accomplishments of people with mental illness?

Printing transformed literature globally. Printing was invented in China. The written word is a wonderful way to inspire change.

Native Americans and President Lincoln helped African Americans escape slavery. Many Latino countries are experiencing social, political and economic turmoil leading some to immigrate to America. What can we do to help them?