The Road to Dawn

Josiah Henson and the Story That Sparked the Civil War

By: Jared A. Brock

Narrated by: Jared A. Brock, Ryan Vincent Anderson

A major literary moment: after being lost to history for more than a century, The Road to Dawn uncovers the incredible story of the real-life slave who inspired Uncle Tom's Cabin.

-He rescued 118 enslaved people
-He won a medal at the first World's Fair in London
-Queen Victoria invited him to Windsor Castle
-Rutherford B. Hayes entertained him at the White House
-He helped start a freeman settlement, called Dawn, that was known as one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad
-He was immortalized in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, the novel that Abraham Lincoln jokingly blamed for sparking the Civil War

But before all this, Josiah Henson was brutally enslaved for more than forty years.

Author-filmmaker Jared A. Brock retraces Henson's 3,000+ mile journey from slavery to freedom and re-introduces the world to a forgotten figure of the Civil War era, along with his accompanying documentary narrated by Hollywood actor Danny Glover.

The Road to Dawn is a ground-breaking biography lauded by leaders at the NAACP, the Smithsonian, senators, authors, professors, the President of Mauritius, and the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, and will no doubt restore a hero of the abolitionist movement to his rightful place in history.

Critic reviews

"Vivid....a moving account of Henson's life and a book from which readers will learn a great deal about the struggle against slavery."—Publishers Weekly

"Jared Brock's biography of Josiah Henson is an impressive effort to piece together the story of a man nearly lost to history and broken by slavery. The Road to Dawn is sure to become required reading in the archives of African American history."—Lonnie G. Bunch III,Founding Director, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History andCulture

"The Road to Dawn tells the story of a courageous man who pursued the common good in spite of painful wounds, discouraging setbacks, and personal flaws. Josiah's winsome character and role within the broader abolitionist context keep us turning the page, as does Jared Brock's fine storytelling about this American figure. And these stories remind us that we have much to learn from those who embody the message of justice and mercy, whatever their flaws or fortune may be."—TimothyB. Tyson, Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at DukeUniversity, author of The Blood of Emmett Till and BloodDone Sign My Name

"Among the many incredible things he accomplished throughout his lifetime, readers might be surprised to learn Josiah Henson was one of our nation's first social entrepreneurs. The Road to Dawn expertly explains how education and economy are key elements for achieving emancipation and equality."—DevalPatrick, former Governor of Massachusetts, managing director, Bain CapitalDouble Impact

"The Road to Dawn is an honest and moving portrait of one of our nation's greatest unsung heroes. Jared Brock's biography brings much-deserved attention to Josiah Henson's epic life story, serving as a reminder to what can be accomplished when we fight on the right side of history."—TheRight Honorable Paul Martin P.C., 21st Prime Minister of Canada

"For too many years, the contributions of African-Americans to our society were minimized or hidden. This book captures the triumph of the human spirit over slavery and of man's inhumanity to man. Josiah Henson exhibited an indefatigable determination to live a life dedicated to the realization of educational opportunities and self-sufficiency for all. We can never know too much about those who paved the way and about those upon whose shoulders we stand."—Lillie R Hughes,National Council of Negro Women

"The Road to Dawn expertly casts Josiah Henson's heroic struggle for emancipation against the backdrop of a national fight for freedom, and in doing so, re-introduces a vital character to American history."—JamieGlavic, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Informative history

Great story telling and unvarnished truth. I could read this literature 5 more times. A true American hero Josiah Henson wa.

You Must Meet Josiah Henson

His story is familiar, yet unthinkable. Known, yet so unknown. As you read, you can begin to understand how difficult it was to rebuild a life that escaped slavery.

He wasn't safe in the Northern U.S. He had to flee to Canada to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted.

Excellent story of a life that changed the country

Josiah Henson was a remarkable man who endured the horrors of slavery while remaining true to his faith. It was great to get to know him through this book.

Education is key

I have the pleasure of reading and listening about many people that unbeknownst to each other in that was fighting for the same cause. I am always amazed at their struggles along with their will to continue on. I thank all who have spent their time and efforts to educate a people about their own heritage. Thank you all this is an amazingly beautiful book that I can’t wait to share with my family

Made me cry for so many reasons

This book was amazing , it changed my way of thinking about slavery and I thought i had s pretty good understanding but this book is excellent in its reading and explanations and i have never read Uncle Toms Cabin because I thought I knew what it was about , my next book WILL be Uncle Toms Cabin . Wonderful thank you