Excerpt
Introduction
The Underground Railroad wasn’t a railroad, and it didn’t run on tracks with trains chugging along. It wasn’t underground, either, like a hidden subway. Instead, it was a secret network of people, routes, and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Imagine a giant puzzle with pieces scattered across towns, forests, and farms, each piece representing someone who believed in freedom and was willing to risk everything to make it happen.
When people think about the Underground Railroad, the first thing that comes to mind is bravery. And it’s true—bravery was at the heart of this story. It took courage for enslaved people to leave behind everything they knew, even if their lives were filled with hardship. It also took courage for those who helped them, risking punishment or worse, just for offering a safe place to rest or a little food for the journey.
But how did it work? The Underground Railroad wasn’t one specific path or route, like a highway you could follow with signs pointing the way. It was a network of secret routes that changed all the time. This made it harder for people trying to catch escapees to figure out where they might go. Some of these routes stretched hundreds of miles, leading to free states in the North, Canada, or other places where slavery wasn’t allowed. Along the way, safe houses, called “stations,” were places where enslaved people could hide, rest, and gather their strength for the next leg of the journey.
The people who ran these stations, called “stationmasters,” were often ordinary folks—farmers, shopkeepers, and even ministers—who believed slavery was wrong. They didn’t see themselves as heroes. To them, helping someone escape was simply the right thing to do. But their actions were far from simple. They had to be careful about who they trusted and always stay one step ahead of the people searching for runaways.
One of the most famous “conductors” on this railroad wasn’t a man with a lantern waving down a train. She was Harriet Tubman, an extraordinary woman who escaped slavery herself and then returned time and time again to help others. Harriet guided hundreds of people to freedom, and she knew the routes so well she could travel them by memory. She used the stars to navigate, specifically the North Star, which was like a natural compass in the night sky. Imagine having to walk for days or weeks with nothing but the stars and your determination to guide you.
But Harriet wasn’t the only one. There were countless others who made the Underground Railroad work. People like William Still, who kept records of those he helped so families could find each other later, or Levi Coffin, whose home became one of the most important stations. Each person played a role, and each role was vital. Without the people providing food or a barn to sleep in, the journey might have been impossible.
Courage wasn’t the only thing needed to make the Underground Railroad work. Secrecy was just as important. Everyone involved had to keep quiet about what they were doing. If word got out, it could mean disaster. Codes and signals were often used to pass along messages. For instance, a lantern hanging in a window or a specific song sung in the fields might mean it was safe to stop at a certain house. These signals were like secret passwords, understood only by those in the know.
Music played a huge role in the Underground Railroad. Songs like “Follow the Drinking Gourd” weren’t just beautiful to listen to—they carried hidden meanings. The “drinking gourd” referred to the Big Dipper constellation, which pointed to the North Star. Enslaved people would use this star to find their way north. Singing these songs might seem ordinary to someone who didn’t know their secret, but for those on the run, they were maps set to music.
One of the most challenging parts of the journey was knowing whom to trust. Not everyone believed slavery was wrong, and some people even made money by capturing runaways and returning them to their owners. That meant those escaping and those helping them had to be incredibly careful. Trust was built slowly and often passed through word of mouth. A traveler might hear, “If you knock on the green door at the edge of town, someone there will help you.” And that green door might lead to a hidden cellar or attic where they could hide.
The Underground Railroad wasn’t organized by a single leader, and there wasn’t a map or guidebook to follow. It was more like a web of connected people and places. What made it so remarkable was that it worked because of the kindness and determination of individuals. Each person, whether they were offering food, guiding someone through the woods, or simply standing guard, was part of something bigger than themselves.
The Underground Railroad wasn’t a railroad, and it didn’t run on tracks with trains chugging along. It wasn’t underground, either, like a hidden subway. Instead, it was a secret network of people, routes, and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Imagine a giant puzzle with pieces scattered across towns, forests, and farms, each piece representing someone who believed in freedom and was willing to risk everything to make it happen.
When people think about the Underground Railroad, the first thing that comes to mind is bravery. And it’s true—bravery was at the heart of this story. It took courage for enslaved people to leave behind everything they knew, even if their lives were filled with hardship. It also took courage for those who helped them, risking punishment or worse, just for offering a safe place to rest or a little food for the journey.
But how did it work? The Underground Railroad wasn’t one specific path or route, like a highway you could follow with signs pointing the way. It was a network of secret routes that changed all the time. This made it harder for people trying to catch escapees to figure out where they might go. Some of these routes stretched hundreds of miles, leading to free states in the North, Canada, or other places where slavery wasn’t allowed. Along the way, safe houses, called “stations,” were places where enslaved people could hide, rest, and gather their strength for the next leg of the journey.
The people who ran these stations, called “stationmasters,” were often ordinary folks—farmers, shopkeepers, and even ministers—who believed slavery was wrong. They didn’t see themselves as heroes. To them, helping someone escape was simply the right thing to do. But their actions were far from simple. They had to be careful about who they trusted and always stay one step ahead of the people searching for runaways.
One of the most famous “conductors” on this railroad wasn’t a man with a lantern waving down a train. She was Harriet Tubman, an extraordinary woman who escaped slavery herself and then returned time and time again to help others. Harriet guided hundreds of people to freedom, and she knew the routes so well she could travel them by memory. She used the stars to navigate, specifically the North Star, which was like a natural compass in the night sky. Imagine having to walk for days or weeks with nothing but the stars and your determination to guide you.
But Harriet wasn’t the only one. There were countless others who made the Underground Railroad work. People like William Still, who kept records of those he helped so families could find each other later, or Levi Coffin, whose home became one of the most important stations. Each person played a role, and each role was vital. Without the people providing food or a barn to sleep in, the journey might have been impossible.
Courage wasn’t the only thing needed to make the Underground Railroad work. Secrecy was just as important. Everyone involved had to keep quiet about what they were doing. If word got out, it could mean disaster. Codes and signals were often used to pass along messages. For instance, a lantern hanging in a window or a specific song sung in the fields might mean it was safe to stop at a certain house. These signals were like secret passwords, understood only by those in the know.
Music played a huge role in the Underground Railroad. Songs like “Follow the Drinking Gourd” weren’t just beautiful to listen to—they carried hidden meanings. The “drinking gourd” referred to the Big Dipper constellation, which pointed to the North Star. Enslaved people would use this star to find their way north. Singing these songs might seem ordinary to someone who didn’t know their secret, but for those on the run, they were maps set to music.
One of the most challenging parts of the journey was knowing whom to trust. Not everyone believed slavery was wrong, and some people even made money by capturing runaways and returning them to their owners. That meant those escaping and those helping them had to be incredibly careful. Trust was built slowly and often passed through word of mouth. A traveler might hear, “If you knock on the green door at the edge of town, someone there will help you.” And that green door might lead to a hidden cellar or attic where they could hide.
The Underground Railroad wasn’t organized by a single leader, and there wasn’t a map or guidebook to follow. It was more like a web of connected people and places. What made it so remarkable was that it worked because of the kindness and determination of individuals. Each person, whether they were offering food, guiding someone through the woods, or simply standing guard, was part of something bigger than themselves.