Living History – Using the Underground Railroad to Understand Oppression and Build Democracy

What would Harriet Tubman or Frederick Douglass have to say about democracy today? What if you could meet them as if in person, and hear what they have to say about racism and its implications for a democratic society? What if you could get a taste of slavery firsthand, and experience what life must have been like on the underground railroad of the 1850s? Democracy cannot flourish in an environment of oppression and exclusion. One local initiative is aimed at using a living history experience, focused on the underground railroad, to build an understanding of the brutal effects of racism. Participants are exposed to the life of a slave on the underground railroad and hear from speakers in costume who will portray Tubman, Douglass, and other abolitionists. Wonder Workshop, a Manhattan-based non-profit organization, is sponsoring this living history experience in spring 2019. This session shares highlights of this experience by illustrating the important role of the underground railroad in history, leading to a discussion of oppression and democracy. Richard Pitts provides an overview of the history of the underground railroad and of current racism in society. Tanda Kidd performs the role of Harriet Tubman in period costume, explaining her important role which would later lead to a more inclusive society. Following the presentations, participants engage in a facilitated discussion of racism, inclusion, and democracy today.