Nightjohn expressed bravery, leadership, and freedom when he was enslaved with others. He acted in ways that were not selfish; he acted in a way to help everyone. Nightjohn was a hero, a true leader. The traits and actions taken by him show a true American hero, one that we could only dream of having in modern society.

Nightjohn taught Sarny letters in secret. By risking his life by divulging the secrets of the alphabet and strings of words he helped the cause of abolishing slavery and strengthening human rights in the United States. After being caught by Mammy, the mother of the children enslaved by the slaveholders, even she had changed her attitude and was curious in learning what there was. Over the course of many months, if not years,