Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Underground Railroad


http://cdn1.newsone.com/files/2009/11/escapeslavery.JPG


By: Kyle Risser

I came across this picture when searching for a topic to blog about. It shows some of the slaves traveling across the underground railroad. Men, women, and even children are on the hopeful pathway to a seemingly hopeless escape attempt. To some people, this picture depicts their desperation, however, to me this picture is a sign of promise for these slaves. I take a great liking to the idea of this underground railroad. The engineering and distribution of this plan is overly sophisticated. I mean to say that they didn't have help from northern abolitionist would be a lie, yet the majority of this plan was executed and carried out by African-American slaves. When reading about the underground railroad, I love how passion and devotion are almost always in the mix of each story. It sometimes makes me wonder if I would have been an abolitionist or not back during that time. Keeping in mind that times were different back then, I still think I would have stuck my neck out for the slaves, given that my neck wouldn't have been cut off for doing it. The longer I ponder on this subject, the more respect I gain for those abolitionist who did exactly that. Abolitionists must have stuck out like a sore thumb, especially in the South.

2 comments:

  1. This painting is incredible. I cannot imagine the journey African-Americans took on the Underground Railroad. We have so many stories, writing, and depictions available however, none can truly describe the experience. It goes without saying, the men and women and even children were given a decision to either die a slave, or risk their lives to potentially reach freedom. Both options seem very dark. However, many slaves decided to risk everything and go for it. The African-Americans who traveled the Underground Railroad were so courageous to secretly escape an evil that had dominated and ruled their entire lives. Not only were they brave, they must have had great amounts of faith and hope. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that faith is “taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” That is exactly what the heroes of the Underground Railroad did. They began their journey, having no idea what their destiny would be. However, they believed in some higher power that would bring them through. They simply desired to live a free life, but were forced to almost die to attain this life. Many did die. It’s so important to look back at paintings like this to attempt to understand our past, even though it’s impossible to fully grasp the reality.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This painting says so much more than expressed. This depicts the journey of slaves who actually had the guts, the will power, and the strength to overcome the harsh cruelties of slavery. To think that these people would make this journey without second guessing, having to walk for weeks and weeks, with no shoes, barely clothed, and carrying the few belongings they did have and the faith they woke up with that morning. You can almost see the determination in their steps as they continue on this path, even though the painting is still. Whoever drew this depicted this journey well. It really opens your eyes to how hard this journey was and how much courage and strength it took to actually follow all the way through with it. It also makes you want to praise abolitionists and great people, like Harriet Tubman who were willing to put their life on the line to help others, not caring the costs. It is one thing to do for yourself, but when you do for others, it shows amazing character.

    ReplyDelete