Unpacking the Underground Railroad

50 East Freedom Way,Cincinnati OH 45202

07 September, 2022

Description

On June 14, 2022, OH House Bill 340 designated September as International Underground Railroad Month. This historic moment pays tribute to the nation’s first social justice movement and Ohio’s pivotal role in the liberation of enslaved people. Conductors in communities along the Ohio River helped freedom seekers with food from their pantries and shelter for exhausted, freezing families. With courage, cooperation and perseverance, freedom seekers navigated the trails and wilderness of southern Ohio. Both conductors and freedom seekers risked their lives. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center preserves and shares the stories of the Underground Railroad. It is the truth and leads to reconciliation, and the truth is the Underground Railroad was an essential movement that lead us towards freedom and equality. The history and the legacy of the Underground Railroad is critical for our collective understanding. To kick off the month, join us for a discussion about the legacies of the first social justice movement in the U.S. with scholars including Dr. Christy Hyman, Assistant Professor of Human Geography in the African American Studies Program at Mississippi State University.