Verified Document

African-American Studies Chapters 9-12 Discuss The Myths Essay

African-American Studies Chapters 9-12 Discuss the myths and realities of the Underground Railroad.

There are a number of myths associated with the Underground Railroad. One such myth was about the use of coded quilts which has been discredited by scholarly research. Another myth concerns the number of slaves who were conducted to freedom by way of the Underground Railroad. Precise numbers are just unknown because of the secrecy required for successful operation. Still, local underground groups that published figures on the number of fugitives they helped over time made it possible to develop estimates for the network as a whole. For the sixty-odd years that the underground existed, it probably was responsible for assisting in the escape of 100,000 fugitive slaves to the northern states and Canada (Bordewich, 2005).

Another pervasive myth about the Underground Railroad was that it operated primarily in the Deep South. In reality, most successful fugitives came from three states: Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. These states all shared long borders with free states, making escape a matter of proximity and familiarity. Also, many people believe that underground escape...

In reality, routes changed to take advantage of technology. Overland routes became less frequented as steamboat and railroad use became more common (Bordewich, 2005).
Many people believe that all escaped slaves went to the North. However some fugitives escaped to places like Florida with isolated rural communities of Blacks. Another myth has it that slaves were familiar with the term Underground Railroad, but this term was not coined until about 1840, and was used mostly in the North (Scholastic, 2012).

Question #4: Many people think that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, and have given him the reputation of the Great Emancipator. What was the real meaning and effect of the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln's view of Blacks?

Lincoln's initial position was against the expansion of slavery into any western territory, which is not nearly the same as being opposed to the institution of slavery. Lincoln was quite ready to allow slavery to continue in states where it already existed and assured white southerners contemplating secession that he had "no purpose & #8230; to…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Bordewich, F. (2005, July 27). Underground Railroad: Myth & reality. Retrieved January 18, 2012 from: http://www.fergusbordewich.com/blog/archives/2005/07/testing_the_blo.html

Scholastic Inc. (2012). Myths of the Underground Railroad. Retrieved January 18, 2012 from: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/myths.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Teaching That Play a Role
Words: 9261 Length: 30 Document Type: Term Paper

Multicultural education researchers and educators agree that preservice teachers' attitudes, beliefs, and understandings are important: foci in multicultural education coursework (Cochran-Smith, 1995; Grant & Secada, 1990; McDiarmid & Price, 1993; Pohan, 1996). Teacher attitudes and beliefs influence teaching behaviors, which affect student learning and behavior (Wiest, 1998)." 1996 study used 492 pre-service teachers to try and gauge the attitudes and beliefs among the group when it came to understanding diversity and

Branding New Service Dominant Logic
Words: 12522 Length: 50 Document Type: Dissertation

Branding in Service Markets Amp Aim And Objectives Themes for AMP Characteristics Composing Branding Concept Branding Evolution S-D Logic and Service Markets Branding Challenges in Service Markets Considerations for Effective Service Branding Categories and Themes Branding Theory Evolution S-D Logic and Service Markets Branding Challenges in Service Markets Considerations for Effective Service Branding Branding Concept Characteristics Characteristics Composing Branding Concept Sampling of Studies Reviewed Evolution of Branding Theory Evolution of Marketing Service-Brand-Relationship-Value Triangle Brand Identity, Position & Image Just as marketing increasingly influences most aspects of the consumer's lives, brands

Clinical Psychology
Words: 60005 Length: 200 Document Type: Dissertation

Clinical Psychology Dissertation - Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings An Abstract of a Dissertation Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings This study sets out to determine how dreams can be used in a therapeutic environment to discuss feelings from a dream, and how the therapist should engage the patient to discuss them to reveal the relevance of those feelings, in their present,

Reforming Urban Schools
Words: 13440 Length: 49 Document Type: Term Paper

School Choice Program This study aimed to determine the impact of school choice through a comparative study of two private schools, which serve primarily, or exclusively African-American students, and a public school. Data in student achievement in math and reading and data on student attendance were used to determine the impact of choosing a school. Qualitative data derived from interviews with administrators and faculty as well as classroom observation were used to

Asher Lev Just As One
Words: 4145 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

Such relationships in childhood begin with the parents, and for Asher, these early relationships are also significant later, as might be expected. However, as Potok shows in this novel, for someone like Asher, the importance of childhood bonds and of later intimate bonds are themselves stressed by cultural conflicts between the Hasidic community in its isolation and the larger American society surrounding it. For Asher, the conflict is between the

Fashion and Identity Fashion, Culture,
Words: 1903 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

The four illustrations from the earliest decades of the twentieth century illustrate the importance of fashion in the formation of identity just as much as Twiggy's outfit does, and in fact are possibly even more telling given their distance from current styles. Regardless of what people of the time though regarding the sexuality of certain of these gown, all of them give the female figure an incredibly sculpted look, whether

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now