ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how black children found agency using their white counterparts. Black children rebelled against the social norms of slavery and used white children to teach them how to read and write. It shows that black children developed different methods to obtain literacy using white children, which means that they rebelled against the social norms of slavery and developed agency. The chapter attempts to elevate how black children used their white playmates to acquire an education, which meant that black children played a pivotal role in the early stages of the freedom struggle because educational obtainment was in direct contrast with the ideals of slavery. It is important to understand the impact the slave codes had on enslaved children. Enslaved children who desired to read and write often used white children to achieve this goal. Before addressing black children's desire to learn to read and write and the different ways they used white children to attain literacy.
