DAY 23: FINDING OUR DIRECTION

On Day 1, we asked you a trivia question about Harriet Tubman and her participation in the Underground Railroad. What most people know about the Underground Railroad is that it was a network of people across the country who helped people who were enslaved escape to the Northern states where slavery had been outlawed. That’s an oversimplification, but you get the gist. What many people do not know is that the Underground Railroad didn’t just travel North—it also traveled South. Today, let’s explore the southbound route that many enslaved people took to freedom.

According to USC historian Alice Baumgartner, it’s estimated that up to 5,000 people enslaved in the U.S. fled to Mexico between the 1830s and the 1860s. Mexico outlawed slavery nearly 30 years before the U.S. did, and Mexican authorities regularly helped escapees from the U.S. to avoid capture by the bounty hunters who chased them. Here’s a map of the approximated routes, based on historical record:

Map showing approximate routes of escape in the Texas-Mexico borderlands and via the Gulf of Mexico between 1836 and 1861

Source: Thomas Mareite, PhD. Image credit: Zach Levitt/NPR

This amazing story highlights the importance of mutual aid and solidarity. Struggles for liberty are shockingly similar across different countries, languages, generations, and identity groups. The role that Mexico played in the Underground Railroad and the fight for freedom in the U.S. cannot be ignored. As put by Baumgartner, widespread assumptions depict Mexico as “a place defined by poverty and political instability and violence,” but in reality, it was “a place that actually was contributing to global debates about slavery and freedom.” Again, stereotypes impact our present-day interactions with people and our rear-view contextualization of people in history.

To learn more about the southbound route of the Underground Railroad, click the images below to explore these two resources:

Book: “South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War” by Alice L. Baumgartner

Audio/Article: A 13-minute audio segment on NPR’s All Things Considered (includes written transcript)

Lasting Legacy

“I Have Always Worked Hard in America” from the series “The Black Woman” (1946)

Speaking of solidarity between Mexico and Black American people, have you explored the work of Elizabeth Catlett? She was a Black and Mexican artist whose art was focused on the experience of Black women and the intersection of race, gender, and social justice.

Learn more about her work and view 22 of her art pieces here: MoMA on Elizabeth Catlett

Click here to watch clips from Elizabeth Catlett’s interview with the National Visionary Leadership Project.

Vermont on the Railroad

Vermont history with slavery is often misunderstood: It was the first state to outlaw slavery through its state constitution, but only for adults. It is known that people were held in slavery in Vermont, and yet, the state was also a place where abolitionists participated in helping enslaved people reach emancipation.

To learn more about Vermont’s role in the Underground Railroad, click the images below to explore these two resources:

Visit: The Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh shows the history of Vermont’s role in the Underground Railroad. This includes digital access to their permanent installation “Free & Safe: The Underground Railroad in Vermont.”

Audio/Article: A 30-minute audio segment on Vermont Public titled “What’s the history of the underground railroad in Vermont?” (includes written transcript)

Game Week

It’s the final week of Black History Month 2023. Each day this week, we will share a game or activity. Today’s activity is a maze—click the image below to access it. If you would like a printed copy of today’s game to be mailed to you, e-mail us at AOA.ORE@vermont.gov with your name, address, and the number of copies you would like to receive. We’ll take care of the rest.

Solved? Stumped? Find the answer here: SOLUTION

Pop Quiz!

A one-question trivia check to make sure you’re on your Black History A-game. How many will you get correct throughout the month? Click the button that reads “Today’s pop quiz” to see today’s question.

In honor of today’s discussion of the perilous journey to freedom, today’s pop quiz question asks you to spot three truths and one lie.

TODAY’S POP QUIZ

Coming up

Check out some of the events happening throughout Black History Month 2023.

TONIGHT 2/23 – The Rebel Women of Mathematics

What: A deep dive into the worlds of 30+ women who broke barriers and made their mark in STEM fields — from rocket science to computer programming. Hosted by professor, speaker, and PBS host Talithia Williams.

Logistics: This free event is being held online on Thursday Feb 23rd from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Registration for Rebel Women of Mathematics

2/25 – Black Children’s Books

What: A virtual event to “discover the latest books centering Black children's stories and celebrate the impact of real representation at this opening of a virtual ‘museum’ devoted to Black literature.”

Logistics: This event is being held online on Saturday Feb 25th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Visit the Black Children’s Book Museum

2/25 – The Black Experience

What: This free event will feature discussions and panels with local artists and speakers, and a keynote presentation by iconic activist and scholar Dr. Angela Davis. There will also be a performance by the Philadanco dance company.

Logistics: This free event is being held on Saturday Feb 25th at 5:00 p.m. at The Flynn, located at 153 Main Street in Burlington. Learn more here: The Black Experience 2023

2/25 – Montpelier Community Gospel Choir

What: A choral performance and a welcoming of the new Artistic Director, Verdis LeVar Robinson.

Logistics: This event is being held twice: [1] On Saturday Feb 25th at 7:00 p.m., and [2] On Sunday Feb 26th at 4:00 p.m. at Unitarian Church of Montpelier, located at 130 Main Street in Montpelier. Admission ranges from $10-40. Learn more here: Montpelier Community Gospel Choir

2/26 – “BIPOC Soul Food Sunday” in the NEK

What: An affinity space open only to people of color to experience entertainment from Toussaint St. Negritude and a photo booth by I Am Vermont Too. Attendees are encouraged to bring any kind of dish to share.

Logistics: This event is being held on Sunday Feb 26th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at The Whirligig Brewing, located at 397 Railroad St. in St. Johnsbury.

2/26 - Alexander Twilight Book Release Gathering

What: A presentation from Bill Tulp, a Vermont author and artist who has released a graphic story about Alexander Twilight.

Logistics: This free event is being held on Sunday Feb. 26th from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Grammar School building of the Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village, located at 1569 Hinman Settler Rd. in Orleans. Learn more here: A New Alexander Twilight Graphic Story

This Week’s Raffle

Each week, we will draw 5 names from the list of those who signed up for this e-mail series. We hope you win (yes, you!). The drawings are random; we use the True Random Number Service, which will pick 5 numbers each week from the sign-up list. You don’t need to do anything from here—we’ll e-mail you if you’re a lucky winner.

This is an installment in the State of Vermont’s 28-day Black History Month e-mail series, offered by the Vermont Human Rights Commission and the Vermont Office of Racial Equity. The Human Rights Commission protects people from unlawful discrimination in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations. Learn more about the HRC here. The Office of Racial Equity provides guidance and oversight to identify and mitigate systemic racism in state government. Learn more about the ORE here. Did you receive this e-mail from a friend? Want to sign yourself up for the remainder of the month? Subscribe to this list here.

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