Harriet Tubman is swimming through cold waters to help her passengers escape slavery (Library of Congress 1934/1935).
An Odyssey to Freedom
The Underground Railroad was made up of Abolitionists, or people who wanted to abolish slavery. Among these were escaped African-Americans and some whites. People like Harriet Tubman worked with mental disabilities. Tubman had a heavy weight thrown at her head at the age of twelve when she saved a fugitive from getting punished by her master. Despite all the headaches and hallucinations, she managed to make a mark in history by working as a Union Spy, Woman Suffrage Supporter, and a nurse. In addition to Tubman, other abolitionists were doing similar things to help slaves. For example Josiah Henson built institutes for refuge for the escapees after escaping through the Underground Railroad. He also wrote a book explaining the hardship of the slaves. Like Henson, Henry Bibb was another African American that was born into slavery. After his escape, he started the first African American newspaper in Canada and wrote his autobiography. Tubman and the other Abolitionists were brave enough to not only go against the law but to return to the places where they were once enslaved. If they were to get caught, then the government would make sure to let them die a painful death or torture them to give information about the Underground Railroad. Here are some of the thoughts of the Abolitionists:
Henry Bibb:
"Believe me when I say, that no tongue nor pen has or can express the horrors of American Slavery"
Harriet Tubman:
"There are two things I've got a right to, and these are. Death or Liberty - one or the other I mean to have. No one will take me back alive; I shall fight for my liberty, and when the time has come for me to go, the Lord will let them, kill me"
Josiah Henson:
"Full of gloomy reflections at my lonliness and the poverty-stricken aspect of the whole farm, I sat down, thinking how I could escape from the accursed spot."
Harriet Tubman is swimming through cold waters to help her passengers escape slavery (Library of Congress 1934/1935).
This audio is of a quote said by Harriet Tubman. They are instructions for the passengers of the behaviour expectations on the railroad. (Paul Yii)