Chance to Overcome Past Discrimination in Telling History
In 1999 the United States Congress passed legislation establishing an Underground Railroad (UGRR) Program administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The UGRR program was established to address the history of anti-slavery in America. This program allows the inclusion of a wide variety of activities involving abolitionist events such as, work resistance, running away, hiding out, rebellions, and conspiracy to commit an act to gain freedom. Documentation is needed of the events and conditions of forced captivity and slavery that lead to the resistance, rebellions, revolts, and fleeing that were part of the abolitionist movement in the South known as the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad involved people of all ethnic and social backgrounds with regards to resistance to slavery in varying degrees.
Slavery was the reason for the Underground Railroad. Therefore, every aspect of slavery is open to examination. Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Arkansas, known as the Southwest during this time was an important part of the Underground Railroad. Natchez Mississippi's Fork-of-the-Roads enslavement selling market, once the second largest enslavement dealing market in the Southwest was pivotal to the slave trade, and as such, will be examined for inclusion to the Underground Railroad Program. It is from this point of entry that we begin with our study of slavery in this area. Events here, and throughout the area from 1820 until the onset of the Civil War will be considered for inclusion in the UGRR Program.
The NPS Underground Railroad's Network to Freedom Program is a chance for all of us to help overcome past discrimination in the telling of history. The important contributions of Africans and African-Americans to the history of this nation must be acknowledged and venerated. This Program has been a long time coming; there has been resistance from all parts of society. It is time to set the record straight! Please help us reveal the truth, join us September 23, 2000. Anyone with any information pertaining to events, people and places from St. Martinsville to Monroe in Louisiana, and Vicksburg to Woodville in Mississippi. Help us overcome the past discrimination in the way history has been recorded, interpreted, preserved and presented. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, or social group, is invited.