Daphne Brooks
Scholar of performance and race who contextualizes Henry Box Brown as an artist and discusses the aesthetics and politics of his work.
Best podcasts with Daphne Brooks
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Feb 13, 2026 • 55min
How a man escaped slavery by mailing himself to freedom
Daphne Brooks, performance and race scholar, reframes Henry Box Brown as a Black performance artist. Martha Cutter, archivist and author, uncovers new documents about Brown’s life. They trace his mailed escape, his transformation into a touring speaker and magician, the politics of his box-themed performances, and debates over how the box shaped his art and legacy.
