Happy Saturday! Today I welcome Donna McDine to the blog. Who is Donna you ask?
Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications, and her first book, The Golden Pathway, was published through Guardian Angel Publishing as well as her second book, The Hockey Agony. McDine’s interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Ms. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Musing Our Children, and The National Writing for Children Center.Quite the resume! Today Donna is going to teach us a little bit about the Underground Railroad.
Code Words Were Essential
in Conducting the Underground Railroad
By Donna M. McDine
The Underground Railroad was a pivotal
time in American history. The bravery and determination of those
opposed to slavery is one to admire and emulate. To take the time out
to have compassion and empathy of others’ plights will certainly
bring a greater understanding of each other. Beyond the bravery, the
organizing of the Underground Railroad came to fruition through the
use of code words. By utilizing code words it assured that those for
slavery would not “catch-on” to the escape routes and intentions
of the slaves to achieve freedom.
Some of the most common code words:
Abolitionist – a person who demanded
immediate emancipation of slaves.
Agent – a person who coordinated the
course of escape.
Bundles of wood – escaping slaves to
be expected.
Conductors – the people that helped
the slaves along the Underground Railroad.
Drinking Gourd – Big Dipper and the
North Star, which aided the slaves in their nighttime travels to
ensure they were traveling in the correct direction.
Forwarding – the transportation of
salves from one station to the next.
Freight or Packages – the slaves were
considered passengers or cargo.
Heaven – referred to Canada because
once there freedom was imminent.
Load of Potatoes – slaves hidden in
wagons under farm produce.
Moses – Harriet Tubman, a conductor
who was instrumental in aiding slaves to freedom.
Quakers – white folks that did not
believe in slavery.
River Jordan – The Mississippi River
or the Ohio River.
Shepherds – people who escorted
slaves from one station to the next.
Station – place of safety, a safe
house.
Station Master – the keeper of a safe
house.
Stockholder – one who donated items
to the running of the Underground Railroad.
The use of code phrases was also
instrumental in communicating along the Underground Railroad:
“A friend of a friend sent me” –
this statement indicates that the slave was sent by the Underground
Railroad network.
“Steal away, steal away, steal away
to Jesus” – a phrase from a spiritual hymn to alert other slaves
an escape attempt would occur soon.
“The dead trees will show you the
way” – a telling sign that moss grows on the north side of dead
trees, hence providing direction.
“The river bank makes a mighty good
road” – since dogs cannot follow a human’s scent through water
this is the best way to travel.
“The river ends between two hills”
– visual directions to the Ohio River.
“The wind blows from the South today”
– this signals the workers on the Underground Railroad that
fugitive slaves were in the area.
“When the sun comes back and the
first quail calls” – early spring was the best time to escape via
the Underground Railroad.
The wealth of information on the
Underground Railroad is immense. Interested in learning more, I offer
the following resources to get you started:
Carson, Mary Kay. The Underground
Railroad for Kids: From Slavery to Freedom. Chicago Review
Press, January 2005.
Afrolumens Project, Central
Pennsylvania African American History for Everyone.
“Names Used for Enslaved People in
Pennsylvania”
Oracle Education Foundation – The
Think Quest Library.
“Underground Railroad, The Fight to
End Slavery – Timeline”
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Please visit Robert Medak's blog tomorrow to meet another great author, Shelby Patrick!
4 comments:
Donna,
Glad to have you as my guest today. I've learned so much about the Underground Railroad from your writing. Thanks for educating us in a fun way about an important part of history!
Very interesting how those a part of the underground railroad had secret phrases for safety. I love history, and the lessons it can teach us.
Thanks for sharing!
I had only a cursory understanding of the Underground Railroad before reading this Donna, and now I really want to know more. Thanks!
Mari:
Thank you for hosting me today and my apologies for not checking in sooner. I've been having computer problems since yesterday and was a sponsor for a Confirmation ceremony today.
Karen and Maggie:
Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me today. I'm glad you enjoyed my post.
Hope you have had a good weekend so far,
Donna
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