George Washington’s Obsession They Don’t Teach You About In School

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:16:39 +0200

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Ona Judge was born into slavery on George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation. After her escape in 1796, Washington became obsessed with recapturing her. His relentless pursuit reveals the profound contradiction of his views of slavery and freedom.

This episode of In The Margins is part of PBS’ America@250 collection, celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. Democracy is built on participation. Get involved at https://vote.org/pbs

In The Margins is a series that covers the history they didn’t teach in school, exploring obscure, yet captivating tales that offer unique insights into their time and place.

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Want to learn more? Check out:

Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

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