The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and First-Hand Accounts (African American)

It's now 150 years since this book was first published in 1872! I finally just got around to reading this "classic." When something is classic - honestly - I have a hard time making myself read it. I don't want classic. I want good reading. I also don't want to be depressed or bored, which I thought I might be here. I'm not sure I even knew that William Still and his brother James Still were two different people, until I read Dr. James Still's biography a few weeks ago. Long story short - not boring. Not depressing. Uplifting. There's way more I didn't know about the UGRR than the little bit I did. This book is totally gripping and inspirational despite the straight forward, low key, truthful tone the author takes throughout the many short stories. William Still uses original first hand testimonies by fugitive slaves given in person to William, as secretary of the "Vigilance Committee" - the formal Eastern organization bridging benevolent contributions and assistance with desperate escaped slaves in need of basic necessities and directions north. The two dozen or so testimonies are enough to give a feel to the awful reality of those times. Spoiler alert - most of the stories are of people who "made it." But despite all of the creative, crazy and dangerous ways to escape, the common theme seems to have been desperation and a willingness to die. They couldn't take it anymore. The prospect of unimaginable and barbaric public auction is often mentioned. But in other cases it is simply needing to at least take one chance in a million to break the power structure that constantly bound - and permanently separated individuals and families for decades and centuries. This isn't a rated R or even PG-13 book. The author mentions that there are far more awful details omitted than included here for "suitable" reading. We don't find out much about William Still, except that he does not try to be in the limelight. After 20 years in this business, I guess he was comfortable staying out of it. Anyway this book made me think a lot about power. Slavery now is officially gone, but the constant issue of power and race is of course not. People in power never seem to want to give it up. Yes this is depressing. But then there's the inspirational part. Actually there are many - but maybe my favorite is the "box guy" - Henry "Box" Brown who famously survived over a day boxed up with the freight. When "the committee" opened the box up in Philadelphia - he greets them and then sings a Psalm (40) he had prepared "if he lived" - "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heard my prayer." Amen.

The book is written from the experiences of a confirmed abolitionist who helped escort escaped slaves to freedom by means of the underground railroad. The descriptions he gives makes one know of the desperation and panic the slaves felt in their dash for freedom from the lash. It also details the heroics of other persons who assisted the fugitives: such as the captain of a ship that happened to be carrying several slaves. The ship was stopped and searched by men trying to recapture the runaways. They thrust swords into hay that was stored on the boat but found nothing. Then they took an axe to several places on the deck but still found nothing. The captain of the vessel bluffed them by grabbing the axe and demanding they tell him where they wanted to search and he would use the axe. He then hit the deck with such force the men backed off and after making him pay the travel tax, let hum go. When he arrived at his destination he freed his grateful cargo from their hiding place. The retelling of the horrors these people from their own mouths cannot be equaled by stories handed down from book to book. I prefer my historical research to be done from resources written as closely to the actual occurrences as possible because as so often happens, one present day author of a book will make an assumption and state it: then someone else perpetuates that inaccuracy because "they saw it in a book, so it must be true".. As an historical researcher, if I can't verify it for myself, I won't use it. This book is from the actual participants. It is a welcome addition to my research resources.

I usually have trouble reading a book completely through, but this book is different because the true life stories are fascinating - but sometimes sad. (I used to rent a room in a mansion in Ohio, where, in the attic, the escaping slaves, during the Underground Railroad, had been formerly kept.) This book is a fascinating history where excellent records have been kept of the slaves going to Canada and elsewhere for their freedom. This author tells the genious ideas of how good people escaped with their lives from a life of slavery and went on to live normal lives elsewhere.

This little gem is exactly as its title says: FIRST HAND narratives. This book is a perfect read for anyone researching that time period whether sixth-grader or thesis writer. Naturally, the spelling and grammar are left as was originally written,spoken by men,women who despite a ban on education, often found the wherewithal to self-teach. Reads like you are THERE!

This is a riveting read with descriptive details about people who broke away from their chains of slavery and made their way, often with help from people who were part of the elusive "underground railroad", to a life of freedom in Canada. It is both heart rending that any human being could be subjected to the horrors of slavery - sometimes with horrible brutality used to "keep them in line", and uplifting that so many managed to escape. It is incredible that anyone who is part of the human race could and would treat other humans in such despicable ways - and justify themselves in doing so. It is also heart warming that a segment of the northern states population were sympathetic to their cause, and enabled them to be free human beings for the rest of their lives.

good book!

A wonderful compilation of personal accounts of runaway slaves that passed through the shelter of William Still, son of slaves and an important cog in assisting those who had escaped slavery. This is an extremely important collection because it was first printed after the Civil War and before Reconstruction-otherwise it may have been lost-this is a reprinting. Bad masters/mistresses, okay masters/mistresses, these people just wanted to be free, but aside from the dangers, they had to possibly leave behind elders who needed them, dependent children, ailing spouses, etc. You will learn a lot from this read!

William Stills' meticulous account of escaping slaves is spellbounding.So much of the Underground Railroad could have lost if it had not been for William Still.He recorded every slaves name and where they came from. He had to hide this information because it contained the name of slaves and conductors on the underground railroad.To read some of the horrors of slavery was just crushing to me. Read for yourself and be enlightened.

Interesting in the respect of the novel being informative.