Who Was Thomas Day?

The Crafting Freedom Materials Project

This short video features an overview of the life and work of Thomas Day, a 19th century free African American furniture maker, who had the largest furniture shop in North Carolina by the mid-19th century. Day's life and work are intriguing to a 21st century students because he challenges many commonly held stereotypes about the old South. For example, Day was a very successful businessman during the height of slavery, who owned slaves yet was well-acaquinted with both white and black Abolitionists in the North.

Click the arrow to view the video in the browser. Right-click or option-click to download the video file. To adjust the audio volume, move the volume slider in the lower right-hand corner of the video player.