W C Brown

William Wells Brown (ca. 1814-1884) was an American abolitionist, novelist, playwright, and historian, born into slavery near Lexington, Kentucky. He escaped to freedom in 1834, became a prominent lecturer against slavery, and pioneered African American literature as the first to publish a novel (Clotel, 1853), a play (The Escape, 1858), and a travel book. His works, including autobiographies and histories, highlighted the horrors of slavery and African American achievements.[1][2]