George Moses Horton was born into slavery on William Horton’s tobacco plantation in North Carolina. Horton taught himself how to read and became entranced by poetry and lyrics as a child. While Horton was enslaved, he was frequently sent to Chapel Hill, where he became exposed to University of North Carolina students who encouraged him to pursue poetry.
In 1829, Horton published his first book, The Hope of Liberty intending to purchase his freedom. Horton’s freedom was denied despite the overwhelming social support he had, including the governor’s. He became the first Black person to publish poetry in the South and publicly protest slavery in poetry. He was also the first and only American to publish a book while being enslaved. Horton’s work explored faith, love, and slavery with a profound understanding of human nature.
