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Time in the life ...
 [Excerpted,
with permission, from the writings of Dr. David A. Anderson/Sankofa]
In October of 1859, FREDERICK DOUGLASS has just read a telegram intended for the U.S.
Marshal. The intercepted telegram implicates Douglass in John Brown's raid on the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He is anguished over the fate of Brown, and of the young African American, Shields Green. Green's image is evoked to recount his escape from South Carolina. Speaking his own epitaph, Green justifies his participation in the raid.
SHIELDS GREEN, born around 1834, is about 23 years old in our favorite
reenactment. He has had far fewer opportunities than Frederick Douglass. This has fueled his struggle to get free from South Carolina enslavement, and to make sense out of a world that marginalizes him. For a time
Green was free in Canada, but he risked that freedom to return to the United States, ultimately, to the fate that awaited him in Virginia.
Testimonials to the life ...
We are completely in awe of how well young people absorb complex subject matter.
For example, a group of 4th graders produced a newspaper at the end of their
study session. In their own words, young people react to the tours:
“... we were very impressed by
the quality of the presentations and the interest generated by the speakers and performers. The performers were very talented and the amount of information given was impressive!”
Jenna Morales
“Thank you
and the others for a wonderful learning experience.”
E. Marshall
“We went expecting
a lot of information on the Underground Railroad but we got much more than that.
... My favorite part of the tour is that you had actors stationed at different intervals along the trip.”
E. Quitter
Praise from Teachers ...
“Thank you so much for the incredible learning experience you provided for our 4th grade students (and
adults) - we absolutely loved it! We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful way to expose our students to the Underground Railroad, and to the inspiring historical figures who helped so many reach
freedom ... we can't wait to return with a new group of students next time. ...
It was great - the leaders, the reenactors, the tour - EVERYTHING!”
Mary Kay Bellwood & Spero Michaildis
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