Celia was around 14 years old when she was sold into slavery in Missouri.
Over the next several years, she was repeatedly abused by the man who claimed to own her.
In 1855, after years of abuse, she killed him.
During her trial, her defense argued she had acted to protect herself. The court rejected that argument, and the law did not recognize the same protections for an enslaved woman.
Celia was executed at 19 years old.
Her case remains one of the most tragic examples of how slavery denied basic legal protections and justice to enslaved people.
History remembers many names. Celia deserves to be one of them
Over the next several years, she was repeatedly abused by the man who claimed to own her.
In 1855, after years of abuse, she killed him.
During her trial, her defense argued she had acted to protect herself. The court rejected that argument, and the law did not recognize the same protections for an enslaved woman.
Celia was executed at 19 years old.
Her case remains one of the most tragic examples of how slavery denied basic legal protections and justice to enslaved people.
History remembers many names. Celia deserves to be one of them
Celia was around 14 years old when she was sold into slavery in Missouri.
Over the next several years, she was repeatedly abused by the man who claimed to own her.
In 1855, after years of abuse, she killed him.
During her trial, her defense argued she had acted to protect herself. The court rejected that argument, and the law did not recognize the same protections for an enslaved woman.
Celia was executed at 19 years old.
Her case remains one of the most tragic examples of how slavery denied basic legal protections and justice to enslaved people.
History remembers many names. Celia deserves to be one of them
