Front cover of a book. Title at the top of the page is The Narrative of the Life of James Watkins. Below this, an illustration of a male figure wearing a top hat and frockcoat typical of the mid – Victorian era. The figure is holding a piece of paper with the words Now I Am Free on it. Beneath this are details of the publication date, edition, printers and location.

#BlackBritshHistory James Watkins was an American fugitive slave. He lived in Birmingham for several years in the 1850s, lecturing against slavery. The Narrative of the Life of James Watkins’, c. 1852-3. Ref: AX 310, Birmingham Vol. 10 #LibraryofBham #BlackBritHist