In antebellum America, enslaved girls were among the most vulnerable members of society due to anti-Black racism, sexism, and ageism. But Black girls and their community laid claim to childhood innocence despite enslavers’ persistent efforts to adultify them. Through a close reading of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon: A Tale of Southern Slave Life, MaDeja Leverett, a doctoral candidate in History, will highlight the girlhood experiences of Harriet Jacobs and Louisa Picquet as significant examples that speak to the intricacies of enslaved girls’ lives.