The Underground Railroad is a topic studied by middle school students in their history classes. While textbooks provide a general overview, students cannot always appreciate the difficulty and importance of the Underground Railroad and it’s relevance to contemporary society.
The purpose of this Mediagraphy is to acquaint students with the real people who were part of this freedom movement and to help them understand why the Underground Railroad is not just a story, but a critical part of the foundation of American society.
The use of audio and video to present this topic is necessary because students need to grasp the severity of the times and circumstances. Seeing the living and working conditions of the slaves, listening to their stories, seeing the stations and routes, and seeing the danger faced by the conductors and other helpers, will put voices and faces to the stories and make them real. The modern lifestyle is so different from the lives of the slaves in the 1800s that students may have difficulty connecting to the experiences and lose appreciation for their significance.
Criteria for selection are based on reviews in professional journals for books, video, audio media. Websites were chosen based on their ease of use and value to meeting the purpose for the mediagraphy.
Video Resources
A History of Slavery in America (video recording) Schlessinger Media, 1994. Closed-captions (30 min.). Interest level: grade 5 through adult. $39.95, Library Video Company, A
History of Slavery in America.
This
comprehensive program chronicles the institution of slavery in North America,
beginning with the notorious "middle passage" from Africa of the
1600s through Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Civil War,
emancipation and Reconstruction. Expert interviews and archival photographs
help to describe slave resistance, the slave family, abolitionism, slave
religion and the difficulties facing post-war Black Americans, dispelling the
myth that slavery was a passive state and highlighting the persistent struggle
by African Americans to end it.
"The wide range of topics covered in this well done
video make it useful for black history units in junior and senior high
school." - School Library
Journal. “…superb overviews which will serve as excellent
introductions. 
...Highly
recommended. Editor's
Choice." - Video
Librarian.
|
Harriet Tubman (video recording) produced by Mazzarella Communications; director, Mark Mazzarella; script, Tony Mazzarella. Heroes of today and yesterday series. Sunburst Communications, Pleasantville, NY: c1999. 1 videocassette (19 min.) + 1 teacher's guide + 1 set of 16 bingo cards. Interest level: grades 3-6. $49.95, Follett Library Resources (49AEEV5), http://www.titlewave.com/.
“Historical information about the time period is included and the issue of slavery is addressed, making this a valuable resource for American history studies. This inspiring story of an outstanding role model will touch the hearts of all viewers.” - School Library Journal 11/01/99 (Available: Ebscohost: Accession number: 2491687) The Underground Railroad DVD Collection, A&E, 1999. Closed-captioned (200 minutes). Interest level:
grade 7 through adult.
$24.95, Library Video Company, The
Underground Railroad.
“The vignettes, photographs, and dramatizations are
stirring, the subject well researched, and the ideas are presented in a clear
and concise manner that will hold the interest of younger children as well as
adults. Part of the History Channel's Save Our History campaign to identify,
save and preserve national historic landmarks, Underground Railroad has
featured activities, resources, reading lists and study guides available on
the History Channel website.
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An
overview of the life and work of Harriet Tubman, from her life as a slave to
her brave escape to freedom to the important role she played leading others
on the Underground Railroad. Also includes historical information on the
Civil War and slavery, and features historical photographs and artwork.
Describes
the network of runaway slaves, freed blacks and anti-slavery whites who were
willing to risk everything for the sake of freedom. Features re-creations of
escapes and legendary achievements by Abolitionist figures such as Frederick
Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
...
A
biography of Harriet Tubman who, after years of slavery, escaped north to
freedom. Tubman would return south 19 times in 10 years to lead other
slaves to freedom along what became known as the Underground Railroad.
Courtney
Vance and Janet Bailey star as slaves on a brutal antebellum North Carolina
plantation. Vance and Bailey make a daring escape with two other slaves and
travel north by means of the Underground Railroad.
Oral
historian John O'Neal hosts each program that features interviews with
leading authorities on the subject's life, accompanied by fascinating
archival footage, photographs and period music that illuminates the
inspirational and motivational factors in each individual's life.
Documentary
of Kentucky’s Underground Railroad broken down into manageable segments for
classroom use.Audio Resources
On an Underground Railroad (music video) by Kinny Landrum. History Happens: Stories from American History on Music Video. Can be viewed using Media Player or Real Player at On an Underground Railroad. Teachers guide also available at Teacher Guide.
"On
An Underground Railroad" provides a condensed history of the Underground
Railroad in the United States. The song starts with the story of the successful
escape of Tice Davids, a Kentucky slave who escaped to freedom in 1831. It goes
on to describe how the movement spread, mentioning Uncle Tom's Cabin, the role
of Harriet Tubman, and John Brown. The third verse explains how the Underground
Railroad worked, including its terminology. The final verse takes up the
subject of the Dred Scott Decision and the Fugitive Slave Law and their influence
on the Abolitionist Movement. Through a unique combination of rap verse and
gospel chorus, the song reveals the central role the slaves, themselves, played
in their emancipation. These music
videos were created to provide a free place on the web for students to learn
about history.
"Through the use of History Happens, children
will learn about the way our nation came to be, how our democracy has been a
struggle, and continues to be a struggle." - Dr. Pat
Nickell, Past President, National Council for the Social Studies. "The music
ends up being a hook that captures students' attention and allows you to share
with them content which they retain as a result of their interest in
music." - Dr. Kenneth W.
Brooks, Professor of Education, Midway College. The History Happens website is
recommended by The History Channel, and has won the “Teacher Information
Network Gold” rating, “Best on the Web for Teachers”, “Study Web Academic
Excellence Award” and 4 stars from “Surfing the Net with Kids.”
Only Passing Through: the story of Sojourner Truth (sound recording) by Anne Rockwell and narrated by Renee Joshua-Porter. Audio Bookshelf, Northport, ME: p2002. 1 sound disc unabridged (41 min.). Interest level: grades 3-6. $15.95, Barnes & Noble, Only Passing through: The Story of Sojourner Truth.
Narrated,
sung and performed by Renee Joshua-Porter; additional narration by Terry Bregy.
Only Passing Through is the inspiring
story of how a woman, born a slave with no status or dignity, transformed
herself into one of the most powerful voices of the abolitionist movement. Sojourner Truth was born in 1797 as a
slave and was determined to fight the evils of human bondage. At 46, she had a
dream that told her she must travel the country and tell people what it meant
to be a slave.
”Anne Rockwell's poignant telling of the life of Sojourner
Truth (Knopf, 2000) is beautifully presented in this exquisite book on tape.
Renee Joshua-Porter reads the book, capturing its spirit in her measured and
expressive tones. The tape begins and ends with Joshua-Porter's singing of two
significant hymns from Sojourner Truth's life. The audiobook follows her from
slavery to emancipation, and then shows her speaking out against the horrors of
slavery. Her powerful words influenced a nation. Her famous "Ain't I a
Woman?" speech is included, as well as a recounting of her visit with
President Abraham Lincoln. The book clearly shows Sojourner's courage in
standing up for what she believed in despite threats against her personal
safety. Sojourner Truth's story can set an example and inspire today's
generation. Teachers will find this exceptional production valuable during
Black History Month and throughout the year.” - School Library Journal. “Renee Joshua-Porter
presents a total package in this recording. Her rich, deep voice gives powerful
support to the courage and conviction of Truth's journey. She augments
Rockwell's text with Truth's beloved hymns and a performance of her "Ain't
I a Woman" speech, set against an aural backdrop of newspaper headlines.
The listener comes away with a strong, vivid sense of Sojourner Truth's impact
on the world.” - AudioFile.
Steal Away: Songs of the Underground Railroad (sound recording) by Reggie and Kim Harris. Appleseed Recordings, 1998. CD (16 songs). $14.99, Amazon, Steal Away - Music of Underground Railroad.
“The songs, beautiful...rich in spirit and texture, reveal the hope, power and ingenuity of an enslaved people who used their traditions, passion and resources to express their faith, strengthen their relationships and communicate important information that led many of them to freedom!” (publisher). This CD contains 16 songs used as a code for the Underground Railroad. Audio clips can be heard at Amazon.com: Music: Steal Away - Music of Underground Railroad and at steal away...songs from the Underground Railroad...
“A
tribute to the bravery and dedication of the people involved in the Underground
Railroad, 1998's Steal Away features Kim
& Reggie Harris’ stirring performances of songs from and about the slavery
era. Most of the album consists of traditional freedom songs like "Oh
Freedom," "No More Auction Block for Me," "Let Us Break
Bread Together," "Go Down Moses" and "Now Let Me Fly,"
all rendered with deep emotion and sensitivity. As usual, the Harris' vocal
talents breathe new life into these important songs, making Steal
Away a collection with historical and
emotional impact.” - All
Music Guide. I thought the recordings are beautifully sung and evoke the
spirit of the slaves on their way to freedom. This would be a great classroom resource to depict the
despair and hope of the slaves. A
reviewer on Amazon writes, “All the songs carry a message for today, especially
songs like "Ain't I A Woman?" as we discover that these words of
Sojourner Truth could still in some ways be spoken today. This CD is a great
listen, a great gift, and a great teaching tool. Highly recommended to
all.”
Websites
National Underground Railroad
Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is
being built in Cincinnati
(completion date: 2004). “Its purpose is to recount and connect the
powerful America story of freedom from slavery to contemporary issues of
freedom today.” The website has
information about the Freedom Center itself, Freedom Today and the Underground
Railroad. The Underground Railroad
section is a wealth of information and links that can be used for educational
purposes. There are links to a
timeline, people, places (routes), research tools, and resources. This website is a great resource and
will probably continue to grow as the Freedom Center grows.
Monument to the Underground Railroad Freedomquest Monument to the Underground Railroad.
This
webquest was created by the Freedom Center for the Underground Railroad in
Cincinnati, Ohio. It is geared for
5th to 8th grade students. While the initial intent of the project was to guide
students to create monuments for a Freedom Center contest, the webquest is a
good project on its own. Students
are guided step-by-step through the webquest with group activities that promote
learning about the Underground Railroad and discovering the relevance of
remembering and memorializing those events today. There are links to many websites for both student and
teacher use. A rubric is provided
for grading the project. The
suggested timeline for completing the project is two weeks. Even if the webquest was not used,
there are links to many useful websites about the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad. National Geographic Online. The Underground Railroad @ nationalgeographic.com.
Interactive
website that helps students experience what it was like to travel the
Underground Railroad. Website
provides lesson plans, slave routes, timeline, short biographies and other
links. Information for both
teacher and student use.
Books
Bound for the North Star : True Stories of Fugitive Slaves by
Dennis Brindell Fradin. Houghton-Mifflin,
2000, 224 pages. Grades 8 &
up. $14.00, Amazon, Amazon.com:
Books: Bound for the North Star : True Stories of Fugitive Slaves.
This book contains narratives that vividly depict the horrors of
slavery and the high value of freedom. There
are more than 16 slaves' personal experiences as slaves: racism, brutality, and
anguish of family separation. The
escapes and rescues show incredible courage, sacrifice, luck, and
determination. The book describes
both the slaves that made it and the ones who didn’t.
“…this collective biography is an
inspiring history of those who escaped slavery and their rescuers. It is also a
horrifying, detailed account of what the people escaped…. The book design is
beautiful, with thick paper, clear type, and small archival photos and period
sketches throughout. The narrative is direct, with no rhetoric or
cover-up.” - Booklist
If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine and illustrated by
Larry Johnson. Bound to
Stay Bound, 1999. All ages. $13.85, Amazon, Amazon.com: If You Traveled on the Underground
Railroad.
In a question-and-answer format, the reader is introduced to what
the underground railroad was and how it was used between 1830 and 1860 to help
slaves in America escape to the North.
A director of an Underground Railroad museum writes on Amazon.com: “I am always looking for clear, concise materials for the public to use . . . The facts are presented in an easy-to-read fashion, and anyone, adult or child, is able to pick up valuable information without being threatened by the reading level of the book. The text is not condescending in any fashion, yet moves easily enough for a 5-year-old child to sit through a reading of the entire book and ask questions provoked by the material being presented. I would recommend "If You Traveled the Underground Railroad" to anyone interested in giving children something of substance to read.”
Appendix
Steal Away: the Harriet Tubman story (video recording)
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245 00 |a Steal away--the Harriet Tubman story / |c directed and produced by Foster Wiley.
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500 __ |a Copyright: National Geographic Television. DCR 1996; PUB 01Jan97; REG 30Oct98; PA922-036.
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541 __ |d Received: 4/05/1999; |3 viewing copy ; |c copyright deposit--RNR; |a Copyright Collection.
710 2_ |a Copyright Collection (Library of Congress) |5 DLC
Conclusion
As a way to interest middle school students in the subject of the Underground Railroad, playing the music video may be a good way to start. The different format would get their attention and the general overview would provide a good basis on which to continue learning more detailed information. This mediagraphy only lists some of the many resources available, but it provides enough information that group projects and classroom discussions can be done after using these materials. Considering that some of this material is only available because of oral history, it may be interesting to compare various resources and events to see if the recollection of events is consistent.
While the link to The Underground Railroad Freedom Center is very good, concluding the study of the Underground Railroad with a field trip to the center (once open) would provide an experience that may make a lasting impression.
Created by Lisa Roesler
troesler@iquest.net
2 April 2003