Through Darkness to Light


Book Description

They left in the middle of the night—often carrying little more than the knowledge to follow the North Star. Between 1830 and the end of the Civil War in 1865, an estimated one hundred thousand slaves became passengers on the Underground Railroad, a journey of untold hardship, in search of freedom. In Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad, Jeanine Michna-Bales presents a remarkable series of images following a route from the cotton plantations of central Louisiana, through the cypress swamps of Mississippi and the plains of Indiana, north to the Canadian border— a path of nearly fourteen hundred miles. The culmination of a ten-year research quest, Through Darkness to Light imagines a journey along the Underground Railroad as it might have appeared to any freedom seeker. Framing the powerful visual narrative is an introduction by Michna-Bales; a foreword by noted politician, pastor, and civil rights activist Andrew J. Young; and essays by Fergus M. Bordewich, Robert F. Darden, and Eric R. Jackson.










Underground Railroad in New Jersey and New York


Book Description

Maps of the major escape routes. Identifies houses and sites where slaves found refuge. Chapter on Canada discusses the final destination.




The Underground Railroad for Kids


Book Description

Provides twenty-one activities that kids can do to learn about the Underground Railroad.




THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (With Illustrations)


Book Description

William Still's 'The Underground Railroad' with Illustrations is a groundbreaking work that delves into the intricate network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in the 19th century. Still's meticulous attention to detail and vivid descriptions bring to life the harrowing experiences of those seeking liberation, making it a captivating read for history enthusiasts and scholars alike. This literary masterpiece not only sheds light on a significant period in American history but also challenges the conventional narrative of slavery with its nuanced portrayal of resilience and courage. Still's inclusion of illustrations adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, offering readers a visual representation of the struggles and triumphs of the Underground Railroad. William Still, a prominent abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, draws from his own experiences and firsthand accounts to create a compelling and authentic account of this pivotal chapter in American history. By weaving together historical facts and personal anecdotes, Still creates a profound and moving narrative that is a must-read for anyone interested in the untold stories of the Underground Railroad.




The Underground Railroad


Book Description

The culmination of years of research in dozens of archives and libraries, this fascinating encyclopedia provides an unprecedented look at the network known as the Underground Railroad - that mysterious "system" of individuals and organizations that helped slaves escape the American South to freedom during the years before the Civil War. In operation as early as the 1500s and reaching its peak with the abolitionist movement of the antebellum period, the Underground Railroad saved countless lives and helped alter the course of American history. This is the most complete reference on the Underground Railroad ever published. It includes full coverage of the Railroad in both the United States and Canada, which was the ultimate destination of many of the escaping slaves. "The Underground Railroad: An Encyclopedia of People, Places, and Operations" explores the people, places, writings, laws, and organizations that made this network possible. More than 1,500 entries detail the families and personalities involved in the operation, and sidebars extract primary source materials for longer entries. This encyclopedia features extensive supporting materials, including maps with actual Underground Railroad escape routes, photos, a chronology, genealogies of those involved in the operation, a listing of Underground Railroad operatives by state or Canadian province, a "passenger" list of escaping slaves, and primary and secondary source bibliographies.




Conjuring Harriet "Mama Moses" Tubman and the Spirits of the Underground Railroad


Book Description

The spirits of Harriet Tubman, John Brown, and other heroes of the Underground Railroad guide readers on a magical path to healing, empowerment, and liberation. The historical role that magic and soothsaying played in the Underground Railroad has long been ignored out of fear it might diminish the legacy of Harriet Tubman and other heroes of that time. However, Harriet Tubman was a Conjure woman who relied on her dreams and visionary experiences to lead her followers to freedom. Revered as “Mama Moses,” she, along with John Brown, Mary Ellen Pleasant, and others have been venerated since their deaths. They now have emerged in the 21st century as the pantheon of a new and increasingly popular African-Diaspora tradition. Written by Witchdoctor Utu, founder of the Niagara Voodoo Shrine, this is the first book devoted to the spiritual and magical tradition of the Underground Railroad. In it, the author conjures the spirits of the Underground Railroad, their continued connection to each other, and their “tracks” still leading to freedom from obstacles, bondage, and trouble and tribulations of all kinds. It is a spiritual tradition that is broadly accessible and inclusive, much like the historical Underground Railroad itself, whose participants were black, white, and Native American, male and female, Christians, Jews, Quakers, animists, secret devotees of forbidden African religions, and free thinkers of all kinds. This revelatory book teaches readers how to invoke the blessings of Mama Moses and her followers, access their healing inspiration and magic powers, and seek their own path to freedom.




THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD COLLECTION: Real Life Stories & Incidents in the Lives of the Former Slaves and Abolitionists (Illustrated Edition)


Book Description

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes used by Southern slaves in escaping to the North. In their attempts they were often guided and helped by former fugitive slaves and abolitionist who were known as the conductors. Unravel the secrets of these incredible and unforgettable life journeys and the people who took these treacherous routes to freedom. This edition includes carefully compiled and detailed documentation about the lives and escapes of over 100 former slaves along with the incredible life stories of the two courageous female conductors, Harriet Tubman and Laura S. Haviland, who risked their own lives in helping these slaves cross over to the North in the dead of the night. So come and relive the stories of extraordinary courage, heart breaking saga of grief and separation and the overwhelming desire to break free! A MUST READ! William Still (1821–1902) was an African-American abolitionist, conductor on the Underground Railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist who recorded the stories of fugitive slaves to help them reunite with their families. Sarah H. Bradford (1818–1912) was an American writer, historian and a very close friend of Harriet Tubman. Bradford was also a contemporary of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Laura S. Haviland (1808-1898) was an American abolitionist, suffragette, and social reformer. She is credited to have established the first racially integrated school in Michigan with her husband, which gave lectures about the realities of life on a slave plantation.




Lights


Book Description

Dirty Laundry is a memoir written as conversational novellas to the four men who came into Janet Jaymes' life. Whenever we start a relationship, we talk about our past, our myriad thoughts, desires and dreams. Through such conversations, Janet Jaymes' describes her life as if each novella is an emotional panel that sewn together becomes a colorful quilt written in the bold colors Janet Jaymes used to paint as a young artist. Dirty Laundry is about a woman who, for years, always seemed to walk into the strangest situations and unconventional relationships she never asked for, as if she was in the wrong place at the right time, or the right time in the wrong place. For Janet Jaymes, life didn't turn out like she planned. Dirty Laundry describes in remarkable detailed-memory, in brutal honesty, and with a sense-of-humor-reality, the good, the bad and the ugly of an average woman's life that turned out to be far from average. Dirty Laundry is an emotional, roller-coaster ride like a high-flying drug trip with crashing, coming-down lows and in the end, we find out how Janet Jaymes survived. Dirty Laundry is an entertaining human interest portrayal of a woman's life that guarantees to be a page-turner.