Harriet Beecher Stowe: A literary soldier recognized at pre-Juneteenth program

Kicking off Saturday’s Juneteenth celebration of freedom, the African American Heritage Society sponsored the one-woman play Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Literary Soldier at the Williamson County Public Library Tuesday evening. The 1853 era play, written and performed by Elizabeth Davidson portrays Stowe confronting an angry Preacher Joel Parker in a private meeting after her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was released earlier in 1853, had reached 10,000 sales. The event is thought to be real, but since it wasn’t documented, the play is Davidson’s version of what occurred.

Parker was angered about the use of a statement he is attributed as saying in her book, which was published in a magazine. It was used without his knowledge; although she did attribute the quote to him. The quote appeared to support slavery, but Parker said he did not.

Read more at Williamson Herald.