Who Is Abdul Rahman, the Prince Among Slaves?

From a Prince to a Slave

Abdul Rahman was the son of the King of Africa. He had a wife and a child. His life was basically perfect until one day when him and some other people from his tribe were captured. They were put on a ship and brought to America. This ship was very cramped and had little to no water and food. This trip to America was very long and painful for the indignities. They had no idea where they were going or what was in store for them when they arrived. Little did they know they had entered the slave life in America.

Prince Sold to Thomas Foster

Soon after Prince Abdul Rahman arrived in America he was bought by a farmer, and business man named Thomas Foster. Prince and another man was sold for $930. Living in Nachez Mississippi Abdul was put to work. Abduls identity of being a Prince was taken away and forgotten for many many years. Soon Abdul ran away from his owner but returned weeks later. His spiritual beliefs brought him to think that everything happens for a reason so he returned to Mr. Foster.

Leader of the Cotton Fields

Abdul shined in the cotton fields as the leader. As he acted like a father to most of the workers people looked at him as their leader. Abdul married another slave names Isabel and they had 9 children together. So he was the father of most of the slaves working on the fields. A man named John Cox found out that Abdul was a Prince he wanted to buy his freedom but Foster wouldn’t give him up for anything. Foster wouldn’t give him up because he was such a good worker in the cotton fields.

Finding Freedom

A man named Andrew Marchalk  heard about Prince and started to publicize his story. Foster finally agreed to getting Abdul free but his wife and children to stay in America. The American Colonization Society send him back to Africa with his wife Isabel! They had a long journey home and sadly Abdul never got to be reunited with his family because he suddenly died. Unfortunately only some of his children were successfully set free.

Bibliography:  Prince Among Slaves. Dir. Bill Duke & Andrea Kalin. PBS 2008