Elijah of Buxton is an award winning historical fiction novel told from the perspective of 11-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first child to be born free in the settlement of Buxton in Canada. Buxton is a real place settled by African Americans who had escaped the horrors of enslavement in America. Learn more with activities from Storyboard That.
Students can identify quotes from Elijah of Buxton that are important to them, making a literature connection with the story.
Storyboard Text
QUOTE from Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
The residents of Buxton escaped the horrors of slavery and found freedom in Canada. In 1860, they are still very much in danger anywhere in the United States because of the Fugitive Slave Act. They live by this creed to ensure that everyone in the settlement can be successful. Most of the people arrive with very little or nothing at all and it is paramount that they have the support of the community to survive and thrive.
"The Buxton Settlement Creed: 'One helping one to uplift all.' It's the way all us in the Settlement look out for one the 'nother. We don't expect nothing in return ... Good things always come from that."