Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Freedom Seeker

Volume XII, No. 2 Spring 2015

Breaking Free: Civil War, Emancipation, and Beyond 14th annual UGRR Public History Conference ark your calendars and plan to attend! The 14th annual distressed urban neighborhoods, social M Underground Railroad Public History Conference isolation, and race and class issues. His rich, awaits you! Don’t miss out on this enriching, energizing interdiscipli nary approach to interpreting opportunity to engage with new research on Underground the significance of historic developments Railroad history and its relationship with us today. is sure to provoke thoughtful dialogue.

The : Teaching with Common Core Representations and Misrepresentations, and the NYS Social Studies Framework, in the Shadow to Mass Incarceration; Engaging of Ferguson, Missouri, by Alan Singer, PhD, Hofstra Urban Youth in Their Communities Through History; University, starts off conference weekend at The Educators’ Sorting Out Freedom in Post-Emancipation Times; The Workshop, at which anyone interested in the topic is welcome. Invisible Abolitionists: the Intertwining Relationship Between Fugitive Enslaved African , Freedmen, Black Activists and National Reconstruction, and American Indians; Abby Hutchinson’s Sweet delivered by Douglas Egerton, PhD, LeMoyne Freedom Songs; The Secret Lives of the Underground College, will be the focus of the Opening Railroad; Juvenile Literature and Attitudes on Freedom, Address. “While even the most so-called Servitude, and Race; and The Long Black Freedom envisioned reconstruction Movement and Socialism are but a sampling of the rich depth as something for the former Confederate States and breadth of breakout session offerings. The Sage Singers of America alone, northern black activists w ill offer an enriching cultural performance, Fierce Convictions: understood that the entire nation required Songs of Freedom, the Civil War, and ; while reformation,” notes Egerton. Based in the research published The Struggle for Civil Rights in American: Lino-cuts by Sam Kerson art exhibit and reception in his newest book, The Wars of Reconstruction: The Brief, Violent History of America’s Most Progressive Era (2014), will conclude the day’s events. Egerton’s contribution to understanding the Reconstruction Sunday’s Open House at The Myers era lies in “Egerton painting a dramatic portrait of Residence and Bus Tour of Albany’s on-the-ground struggles for equality in an era of great hope UGRR sites will draw the enriching, and brutal disappointment,” according to American Historian engaging weekend to a close. Eric Foner, PhD, Columbia University (New Times, Jan. 31, 2014). “A great way to spend a weekend” reflects volunteer Brea th Barthel. “This 14 annual conference is sure to please.” Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., PhD, from the University of Buffalo, Register today. Don’t delay. Online and paper registration is will speak to the topic of “From available at www.UndergoundRailroadHistory.org or by Inside this issue the Underground Railroad to the calling (518) 432-4432. See you in April! Fight Against Neoliberal Racism:

Selma: P. 2 The Long Struggle for Black a Commemoration Liberation” at the Saturday morning keynote. Taylor, a Professor in the

New Members P. 3 Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of the Center

for Urban Studies at the University

News and Notes P. 3 of Buffalo, conducts historical and contemporary analysis on VOLUME XII, NO. 2 THE FREEDOM SEEKER PAGE 2

URHPCR Board of Directors Selma: a Commemoration

Paul Stewart, Co-founder

with Mary Liz Stewart, Executive Director

Sharon Robinson Pat Barrot Madeline President Yomika Bennet Kennedy Mike O’Brien Dale Black- Matt Kirk Vice-President Pennington Paul Murray Alexandra Christine Jim Owens Sautin Cowieson Ralph Pennington, Secretary John Dion Jr. Wednesday, March 25 - 6pm-7:30pm Doug Arnott Kendall Jeter Deborah Rausch at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence Treasurer Lorraine Wynne 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY 12210

The Selma to Montgomery voting rights march began on

The Freedom Seeker is a publication of Underground March 7, 1965, with 600 participants and ended in Montgomery Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc., a on March 25, 1965 with 25,000 people at the state Capitol steps non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting knowledge of to hear the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and led to the passage the Underground Railroad Movement and its of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. legacy in the Capital Region, in NYS, in the United States, and relating that history with us today. This newsletter is published Gather to commemorate this momentous historic event, to three times a year. remember those who courageously risked their lives, and to Editorial inquiries can be sent to respond to their call to us today to carry on the freedom struggle. URHPCR, P.O. Box 10851, Albany, NY 12201 or [email protected] Please remember that there are no restroom facilities at The Myers Residence

Editorial : Notes on the Fugitive Slave Issue By: Wendell Harris, retired educator, writer, & URHPCR volunteer

The Underground Railroad was instrumental in weakening slavery. percent of the total slave population, or about 5 out of 400 slaves.2 Blacks were the driving force behind the movement. Black It is also estimated that between 1830-1860 approximately 45,000 conductors often worked in jobs connected to transportation. escaped to freedom.3 This would represent less than 1 percent of These jobs included river men, railroad porters, and coach owners. the total slave population. The 1860 census gives a more precise perspective on the free and slave populations - Free people of Although the Underground Railroad represented its own resistance color: 476,748; Slave population: 3,950,528. to slavery, a more profound response would come with the fugitive slave issue. Specifically, it was the white response to the fugitive It is apparent that the Underground Railroad contributed to the slave issue that upset and angered Southerners and helped lead to weakening of slavery but not to the point where it was able to secession and war. As Benjamin Quarles stated, "Slavery was destabilize it as an institution. The impact of slaves escaping was weakened far less by the economic loss of the absconding blacks immediate. First, there was a loss of labor which was often than by the antislavery feeling they evoked by their flight difficult to replace. Secondly, there was a period of uncertainty and attempts to reclaim them." 1 when it came to discipline on the or small farm. Third, it helped to dispel the mythology of the happy, go lucky contented Without question, the fugitive slave issue was front and center in slave.4 bringing on the Civil War. Southerners did not anticipate the hostile response from the North towards the Fugitive Slave Law of Lastly, blacks not only led the way in terms of the Underground 1850. Slave owners saw the law as a way to control, protect and Railroad efforts to help fugitives escape and avoid recapture but reclaim their property. The abolitionists saw it as a way to further they also provided assistance in helping them to find a place to dehumanize the enslaved. live, work, and establish social connections.

In addition, the fugitive slave issue made it possible for white and black abolitionists to increase their level of cooperation. It was an issue on which they both could agree and plan accordingly. There 1. Benjamin Quarles, Black Abolitionists (: Oxford were other issues on which they did not agree. For example, University Press) 1969, 143-482. whites did not agree on the total social equality of blacks. 2. David Davis, The Problem of Slavery In the Age Of Emancipation (New York: Vintage Books) 2014, 235. According to some very conservative sources, the total number of 3. Ibid., 236. yearly runaways in the 1850's would have been 50,000 or 1.2 4. Ibid., 237. VOLUME XII, NO. 2 THE FREEDOM SEEKER PAGE 3

An Underground Railroad Monument Over the Past Months Comes to Nyack

URHP Board member Paul Murray joined more The Historical Society of the than 70,000 people, marking the anniversary of Nyacks presents an exhibition Bloody Sunday by crossing the Edmund Pettus titled An Underground Railroad Bridge in a peaceful demonstration that marked Monument Comes to Nyack: both progress made and work that remains. In Inspired by Toni Morrison, Honoring 1996, Congress created the Selma-to-Montgomery Cynthia Hesdra. The exhibit will open on March 14th and will National Historic Trail; the bridge was declared a Bench by the Road drawing National Historic Landmark on March 11, 2013. (c) Bill Batson continue through May 31st every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bonnets and Bayonets: an Evening Historical Society’s Museum at 50 Piermont Avenue, Nyack. of Victorian Dance, was a grand evening! Youth, teens, and adults This exhibit will showcase the upcoming Nyack “Bench by came together to experience history the Road” monument to the Underground Railroad and through period appropriate dances. Cynthia Hesdra (1808 – 1879), and will explore Hesdra’s As a fundraiser, the event raised history as well as the accomplishments of Nobel Prize funds to support the restoration of winning author and local resident Toni Morrison, whose The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence. Watch for us at the Troy Victorian Stroll. quote inspired the Toni Morrison Society’s “Bench by the Road” program. In addition, photos and text describing Plans for The Abrahm Johnson “Bench by the Road” projects from around the world will Garden are in full swing. Edible and create a compelling narrative about slavery and freedom. The decorative plants will soon fill the exhibition coincides with the dedication of Nyack’s Bench in beds. Donate some time to this Memorial Park on May 18th, 2015. More information is endeavor. Training is provided. available at www.VisitNyack.org - Sharon Robinson

Welcome and thank you to new and renewing members: Kathy Basirico, Thomas Keefe, Felica Hirata, Yvonne Abunaw, News and Notes Patricia Oldham, Mary Ellen Lee, Susanne Isaksen, Charmaine Mission Statement of URHPCR: Cave-Dersham, Ben Stewart, Joel Stewart, Sarah Stewart, Dan Stewart, Anne King, Yomika Bennett, Marey Bailey, Anne Underground Railroad History Project Savage, Lynn MacGowan, Richard Nebb, Marsha Lazarus, Paul researches and preserves the local and national history W. Rehm, Leon & Susan Walker, Harris Oberlander, Alan Singer, of the anti-slavery and Underground Railroad movements, L. Weiss, Judith Wellman, Verna Carr their international connections, and their legacies to later struggles; Invite someone you know to become a member, or give the gift it engages in public education and dialogue about of membership - details available on the Membership Page at www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org these movements and their relevance to modern society.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend - Young Abolitionist Teen Scholars Institute - July 6-31 - details at UundergroundRailroadHistory.org/youth-activities/  URHPCR Board Mtg - 3rd Thursday of every month, 5:45 - 7:30pm at Russell Sage College, Troy Am I On? - Partners for Albany Stories invites you to share  Conference Planning Mtg - 1st Monday of each month, your Albany stories at Albany’s historic sites between March 26 5:30 - 7:00pm at Russell Sage College, Troy and May 17. See UndergroundRailroadHistory.org/events/ for  Building & Properties Mtg - monthly, 5:30 - 6:30pm at full details.

The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - The American Place  Finance Committee Mtg - 2nd Tuesday of each month, Theatre verbatim adaptation of Harriet Jacob’s narrative. Visit 5:30 - 6:30pm at Albany Center for Economic Success www.albany.edu/pac/ for full details. Information about these meetings and events is available at June 5-6 (518) 432-4432 or at [email protected] Underground Railroad Conference - in Cambridge, Maryland. Visit www.tubmanugrr.com for details.

Questions? Concerns? Contributions? Interested in Into the Light: Striving for Freedom and “an equal chance in volunteering? Contact us by calling (518) 432-4432 the battle of life”- June 17-20 - Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Conference. Visit

or by visiting www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org. www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/annual-conference.htm for details.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY PROJECT OF T HE CAPITAL REGION, INC.

P.O. Box 10851 Albany, NY 12201

Phone: (518) 432-4432 Fax: (518) 432-4432 Email: [email protected]

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Breaking Free: Civil War, Emancipation, and Beyond — April 17-19, 2015