Happy Hump Day POU! Today's post is not so much about the Underground Railroad, as it is about the Underground Postal Service. This is truly a story that deserves the big screen. Henry "Box" Brown (c.1816–after 1889) was a 19th-century Virginia slave who escaped to freedom by arranging to have himself mailed to Philadelphia abolitionists in a wooden crate after 33 years of … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: The Underground Railroad
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Tuesday Open Thread: The Underground Railroad
Good Morning POU! Today's feature on The Underground Railroad will focus on one of the "conductors", William Still. William Still was just a boy when he helped the first one escape. He never knew the man's name; only that he was being hunted by slave catchers. But in the years ahead, there would be many hundreds more. And Still vowed their stories would never be … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: The Underground Railroad
Monday Evening Thread: Robert Elliott Brown’s Speech
Good Evening POU! On this day in 1874, Congressman Robert Brown Elliot delivered one of the most eloquent speeches of the times in defense of Charles Sumner's civil rights bill. Elliot's hour-long speech began: 'I regred, sir, the dark hue of my skin may lend color to the imputation that I am controlled by motives personal to myself in advocacy of this great measure of … [Read more...] about Monday Evening Thread: Robert Elliott Brown’s Speech
Monday Open Thread: The Underground Railroad
Good Morning POU! I would like to thank RHOA's Porscha Stewart, the inspiration behind this week's topic. In her honor, this week we will look at extraordinary individuals and little known facts about one of the most important institutions that proved the strength and ingenuity of African-American slaves, The Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was neither … [Read more...] about Monday Open Thread: The Underground Railroad
Sunday Open Thread: Songs of The Underground Railroad
Good Morning POU! Today's open thread is dedicated to the spirituals sung by slaves as a code to direct the passengers of The Underground Railroad. Perhaps the best known use of spirituals in the service of freedom during the slave period was the imbedding of “hidden” or coded messages in song lyrics for the purpose of clandestine (secret) communication on the Underground … [Read more...] about Sunday Open Thread: Songs of The Underground Railroad