A Mural in Motion: Honoring Ona Judge's Escape and Legacy

The mural on Court Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, bursts with color against the winter backdrop. At its center, Ona Judge stands resolute, gazing outward toward the Atlantic. Her detailed face anchors the work, telling a story too often overlooked.

In 1796, Judge, then 22, escaped from President George Washington's home in Philadelphia. As an enslaved woman, her flight was fraught with unimaginable risks. She sought refuge in Portsmouth among the city's free Black community. Despite Washington's relentless efforts to reclaim her, Judge resisted and lived the rest of her life in New Hampshire. Once marginalized, her story now takes center stage in this mural.

Muralist Richard Haynes, a Portsmouth-based artist and educator, created A Path to Freedom. He described it as "a long-overdue celebration of Ona Judge’s courage." He added, "This mural isn’t just about history—it’s about connecting her bravery to the present, to the struggles that persist." The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire commissioned the project, unveiling it in October 2023 during their annual events.

Haynes’s mural incorporates symbols from Judge’s life. The Atlantic Ocean sprawls across the lower half, representing both escape and the forced journeys of millions. Above, constellations evoke navigation tools used by those on the Underground Railroad. Fragments of text from Washington's letters and federal records pierce the background, reminding viewers of the legal structures Judge defied.

Judge's story gained prominence when historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar published Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge in 2017. Dunbar’s research highlighted Judge’s journey from enslavement to freedom. "For Ona Judge, escaping wasn't just an act of personal liberation. It was an indictment of a system that denied her humanity," Dunbar stated. The mural, she remarked, serves as "a continuation of her defiance against historical erasure."

Portsmouth holds layers of historical significance as a port city involved in networks of enslavement and resistance. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has worked for decades to preserve these histories, including a permanent exhibit on Judge. Executive Director JerriAnne Boggis emphasized public art's role: "Art reaches people who might never step into a museum. This mural makes Ona Judge visible—unmissable—on the streets of the city where she sought freedom."

The unveiling of A Path to Freedom coincides with ongoing debates over historical narratives in the United States. From school curricula to public memorials, the question of who is remembered remains contested. Haynes described the project as "a bridge—between the past and the present, between communities divided by history."

However, some critics argue the mural's scope is limited. Art historian Paul Ramirez noted that while the tribute is powerful, "such works can risk oversimplifying complex histories." He pointed out the absence of other figures—enslaved or free—who shaped Portsmouth’s Black history. "Ona Judge’s story is singular, but it’s also part of a larger collective struggle. The mural captures her bravery but could push further to connect her to that broader context."

Whether viewed as a celebration or a starting point, the mural extends Judge’s legacy into public consciousness. As the weathered bricks of Court Street now bear her image, the question becomes: How does this tribute transform its viewers? For locals, it may remind them of their city’s layered past. For visitors, it could provoke deeper questions about the ongoing resonance of Judge’s defiance.

As winter turns to spring and light shifts across the mural, those questions linger. What does it mean to commemorate resistance in a country still grappling with inequality? If Ona Judge could stand steadfast in her pursuit of freedom, what burdens—and responsibilities—rest on those who walk past her image now?