A Heart on Fire: Quaker Benjamin Lay's Fight for Equality in Colonial America
About this book
A Heart on Fire: Quaker Benjamin Lay's Fight for Equality in Colonial America is a nonfiction picture book for children that explores the life of a determined social activist. This biography introduces young readers to Benjamin Lay, a man who faced personal hardships and physical differences while fighting for the equality of all people. After witnessing the horrors of enslavement as a sailor and resident of Barbados, Lay dedicated his life to ending the practice of slavery.
Settling in Pennsylvania, Lay used protests, boycotts, and writings published by Benjamin Franklin to challenge his community. This history book details how he confronted other Quakers to expose the evils of enslavement. Through his persistence, Lay changed the hearts and minds of his peers in colonial America. This work serves as an educational resource for children's books focusing on United States history and difficult discussions.