Celia was a 19-year-old enslaved woman who lived in Missouri. On June 23, 1855, after repeatedly requesting Newsom, her master, to stop sexually coercing her - with no success, she struck him twice with a large stick.
She then burned his body in her fireplace.
She then burned his body in her fireplace.
Celia was ultimately executed by hanging following a denied appeal in December 1855.
For many enslaved African Americans, one of the cruelest
hardships they endured was sexual abuse: nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/ensla…
hardships they endured was sexual abuse: nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/ensla…
Celia's jurors, of course, were all male. They ranged in age from thirty-four to seventy-five and, with one exception, were married with children. All were farmers. Several were slave owners.
Celia died on the gallows at 2:30 P.M. on December 21, 1855.
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