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Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar Reflection
Ona Judge’s story told through Never Caught is significant because it is one of the most
famous novels that is focused on the perspective of an enslaved black woman. The novel not
only informs readers about Ona Judge’s experience, but it also gives us insight into what was
experienced by enslaved black women during this time (late 1700s-early 1800s). Her specific
story is especially significant because she was enslaved by Martha Washington/the Washington
family, the first First Family of the United States. Through her story we are able to learn more
about the First Family and the development of the United States. This shows us a “darker side”
of history and historical figures that has for so long been looked over and ignored. George
Washington’s life is regularly taught in a positive light, telling what he has done good for the
country during the Revolutionary War and his presidency. Never Caught provides us with an
opposing perspective of Washington, one that shows how much he benefited from slavery and
how he continuously bent the laws in order to ensure he could keep his slaves.
Erica Armstrong Dunbar had to fill in quite a few gaps in order to put together Never
Caught. As the novel was written long after Ona Judge or the Washingtons’ were alive, she had
no choice but to use the sources they had left behind. Judge had done two interviews about her
life only a few years before she passed away. These were very important sources for Dunbar’s
novel, as they are the only sources with words coming from Judge herself. Other sources she
used included George Washington’s diary and newspapers/advertisements (ex: Ona Judge’s
runaway slave advertisement). Because Dunbar had minimal sources, and even less sources
coming from/directly related to Judge, she had to find a way to fill in gaps and add detail to the
novel herself. She did this by expanding on other details (ex: telling about some of the other
people enslaved by the Washingtons aside from Judge) and making assumptions about how she
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believed Judge would have felt in situations. She did this by saying things along the lines of
“Maybe Judge would have felt…” and “Judge may have…”.
I really enjoyed reading Never Caught. I appreciate the way that Dunbar fills in the
unknown areas within Judge’s story. I can understand why some people might have concerns
that Dunbar’s novel is not entirely accurate on the little details of Judge’s life, as Dunbar has to
make assumptions about many things. But I think that these assumptions are essential to the
story. They allow readers to imagine how Ona Judge may have felt/reacted to the situations
throughout her life. Describing Judge this way helps readers to stay engaged in her story and
better empathize with her.