Great Escapes: Celebrating the Underground Railroad

Henry “Box” Brown is known for his daring escape to freedom in a crate.

On Juneteenth African Americans celebrate Freedom Day to mark when enslaved people of African descent in Texas learned of their freedom 159 years ago. They were the last people to be emancipated, two whole years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the end of the Civil War.

Now that Juneteenth is a national holiday and better known, it offers a great educational opportunity for all children to learn about over 256 years of early American history.

Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history: the end of chattel slavery in the US. Yet many caregivers, librarians and educators find it difficult to celebrate or discuss the end of chattel slavery in the US. 

It's true, our nation's history includes a long dark chapter of forced labor. But this story is also rich with tales of incredible bravery and unwavering hope.

Think of heroes like Harriet Tubman, the "Moses" of her people, or Sojourner Truth, a powerful voice for freedom who even spoke Dutch! The person in the photo you see is Henry “Box” Brown who mailed himself in a crate to freedom!

These figures, along with countless others, left behind stories and escape strategies that offer a window into this period.

This year, Young Audiences of Louisiana is honoring Juneteenth in a unique way. We're creating a non-denominational ancestral altar for our office, a space to reflect on the narratives and ingenuity of those who escaped enslavement.

The altar will highlight the daring journeys people took to freedom, navigating mountains, forests, rivers, and even swamps, with some even finding refuge in Canada or Mexico!

These escape stories not only showcase the intelligence of enslaved people, but also reveal the ingenuity they used to survive. Imagine having to travel at night, using the stars as your guide? They used the natural world to their advantage, finding shelter in caves, and crossing rivers under the cover of darkness. These are brilliant survival tactics that can inspire us all!

After escaping, many former slaves wrote powerful narratives exposing the harsh realities of the "peculiar institution" – a system that enriched a very few at the expense of a great many, and contradicted the ideals of democracy and human rights the U.S. promised.

“Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom” tells the story of husband and wife William and Ellen Craft, who disguised themselves as master and slave on their thousand mile journey to freedom.

Think about Harriet Jacobs, hiding for years in an attic just feet from her children. Or Robert Smalls, who seized a ship during the Civil War to free himself and his family. Ellen and William Craft even posed as master and slave to escape by train and carriage! And who can forget Henry "Box" Brown, who literally mailed himself to freedom!

Of course, everyone knows Harriet Tubman, who led over 70 people to freedom on 13 daring missions. But there were others, too, like John Brown, who believed forceful action was necessary to end slavery.

Did you know there was once a secret network called the Underground Railroad? It wasn't a train at all, but a hidden system that helped people escape slavery.

While not all escape attempts succeeded, these efforts created a network of tools and strategies: coded songs, maps, symbols on trees, safe houses – all part of the Underground Railroad. Between 1810 and 1850, this network, run by a diverse group of people – Black,white and indigenous, free and enslaved, rich and poor – helped over 100,000 people reach freedom.

What are you doing for Juneteenth? Want to learn more about the Underground Railroad?   Here are some intriguing things you can use to educate yourself and your family and friends about Juneteenth this year and anytime. 

Check out the YALA website for Great Escapes Scavenger Hunt

If you can, check out the New Orleans Juneteenth Festival TODAY, from 12-7, at Congo Square! 

One way Texans celebrate Juneteenth is with rodeos. To find out more about rodeos and Black cowboys, check out: The Real Cowboy Association

Dr. Opal Lee is called the Grandmother of Juneteenth. To find out more about how Juneteenth came to be a national holiday, visit Opal’s Walk to DC

Make your own Juneteenth flag and other fabulous activities to celebrate this holiday, check out Juneteenth for Kids 

For early learners, download the Afrocentric Montessori Juneteenth Joy Activity Packet: 

Enjoy your Juneteenth holiday!