Underground Railroad Henry Box Brown Analysis

The Underground Railroad was one of the most remarkable protests against slavery in United States history. It was a fight for personal survival, which many slaves lost in trying to attain their freedom. Slaves fought for their own existence in trying to keep with the traditions of their homeland, their homes in which they were so brutally taken away from. In all of this turmoil however they managed to preserve the customs and traditions of their native land. These slaves fought for their existence and for their cultural heritage with the help of many people and places along the path we now call the Underground Railroad.

After about nine chapters detailing his slave life, he says, “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” (Douglass, 75) He then goes on to describe the turning point for him that sparked his quest for freedom. By structuring his narrative this way, he reveals both sides- how slavery broke him “in body, soul, and spirit” (Douglass, 73) and how it eventually “rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom” within him (Douglass, 80). In doing so, he gives the reader an insight into how he became himself, and reinforces the evils of slavery in the way it shapes a man’s life. Douglass’ use of diction and structure effectively persuades the reader of the barbarity and inhumanity that comes as a result of slavery.

Blackmon provides many stories in his book about what the slaves to forced laborers went through and how they felt about the new so called “freedom” they gained. The Black Americans prior to the Emancipation Proclamation have never seen the slightest clue to what freedom could even feel like. “Some of the old slaves said they too weren’t sure what “freedom” really was”

A journey of hundreds of miles lies before you, through swamp, forest and mountain pass. Your supplies are meager, only what can be comfortably carried so as not to slow your progress to the Promised Land – Canada. The stars and coded messages for guidance, you set out through the night, the path illuminated by the intermittent flash of lightning. Without a map and no real knowledge of the surrounding area, your mind races before you and behind you all at once. Was that the barking of the slavecatchers’ dogs behind you or just the pounding rain and thunder? Does each step bring you closer to freedom or failure?

Henry Box Brown was an African-American slave in the 1800’s. When he was young, his original slave owner had passed, and Henry was sent to work for his old slave owner’s son. As he got older he met another slave named Nancy while on an errand for his owner. Brown and Nancy wanted to get married and start a family. Later on, Brown and Nancy had three children. “Unfortunately, in 1848 Nancy and their three children were sold to a slave trader who sent them to North Carolina,” (Simkin). Brown was bemused and mournful because his owner promised to not sell his family. Questions were raised on if he should attempt an escape, and this paper will explain the benefits on why Henry Box Brown made the right decision to escape.

The Underground Railroad was neither a railroad nor underground. It was a system of secret routes and people who helped African American Slaves escape to the North and to Canada during the 19th century. Why was it called that? The reason it was named “The Underground Railroad” was because it was figuratively underground as the network was illegal so they needed to stay “underground” to keep from being caught. The word “railroad” was used because the railroad was a rising mean for transportation and its users used railroad code to talk to each other in secret.

The Transcontinental Railroad, first known as the Pacific Railroad was an almost a 2000-mile railroad line. It was constructed over a span of six years between 1863 and 1869. It connected the eastern U.S. rail network in Iowa with the Pacific coast at San Francisco Bay.

During the 19th century, America became polarized over the issue of slavery. The South identified as pro-slavery, while the North was opposed to it. The Underground Railroad was established in the early 1800’s after the end of the American Revolution. Aided by people involved in the Abolitionist Movement, the Underground Railroad helped many slaves escape bondage. This was not an actual railroad nor underground, rather a term used to describe a vast network of secret routes, safe places, and people sympathetic to the cause. The Underground Railroad ran until the 1860’s reaching its peak right before the Civil War began (Malaspina).

The emancipation of the African slave who was now disconnected from their traditions and way of life after nearly 300 years, is seemingly a great gush from the dam to the ebbs and flows of the struggle. The end of slavery as we know it, presented a ball of mixed emotions among the nation; North and SOUTH. Some slaves were grossly ecstatic to be free. For example, when a slave girl named Caddy, from Goodman, Mississippi found she was free, went to her mistress, flipped up her dress and told her "Kiss my ass!" On the contrary, some slaves were apprehensive of being free. For example, one elderly slave woman reportedly said, "I ain' no free nigger! I is got a marster

The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad at all. It was a network of Americans, both black and white that dedicated their life’s to destroy the institution of slavery. This network was a group that helped individual slaves escape to freedom in the north. The history of the Underground Railroad is rich in history and bursting with danger, full of drama, tragedy, joy, evil slave hunters and anonymous heroes and second chances for slaves. Both men and woman in this network were able to set aside the assumptions about the other race and work together.

Although, discriminating and judging other people may seem good, there is always karma. In the past, the whites were used to blackmailing the blacks, but as everyone says “Politics can really screw you over” and this time, blacks bribed the whites.This was very unexpected. Around the 1890’s, the ICR (Intercontinental Railroad) was finished being built and it needed lots of jobs. Driver, Passenger, e.t.c. But as everyone knows, blacks have to be less than the whites at the moment. So, they got jobs like servants. As a servant, you would clean the train, Clean cars, serve them and Clean their shoes. 3 or 4 years for the African Canadians were good and they earned good money but as new technology was developing the Transcontinental Railroad was

The Underground Railroad was a major development that united a diverse group of people for a common goal. Slaves were able to escape and went to a free land where they were considered free. The slaves would have to live in seclusion to avoid being found by slave catchers and returned to the terrible conditions from which they fled. Helpers, also known as conductors, assisted many slaves on their journey to freedom by concealing them in secure places and provided the slaves with food and information needed to continue the expedition. The developments of the places used to hide fugitives were basic wagons, rooms, and closets. There were peculiar spaces like specially built shelters, tunnels, and improvised rooms in strange places. The risks to

The Underground Railroad was what many slaves used to escape slavery. It was not an actual railroad, although it could easily be compared to one. It was a route, with safe houses and many other hiding spots for the slaves to use. The paths had conductors telling you where to go and people who would drive you to the next safe house. You had to be quick, you had to be strong, and you had to be very courageous. The Underground Railroad led all the way to Canada. There were many people helping the slaves, and even more people that were opposing them. It was no easy task. Many slaves died of sickness or natural causes, gave up and returned back to the plantation, or were caught and either killed or brought back. It was a rough journey but a

Douglass initially describes his joy and gratitude of his freedom from slavery, but he goes on to write of the challenges that freedom brought him as well. Upon his freedom from slavery, Douglass was joyous—he had removed himself from the dehumanizing environment that slavery had created for him. However, Douglass quickly realized that freedom and the “real world” included challenges that he had yet to expect. Douglass’s linguistic style contributes to his expression of his complex feelings towards freedom from slavery.

Have you wondered about how the African American slaves got their freedom? In the video, The Underground Railroad, we see the struggles they experienced to get freedom. I feel like this video was very good and it made me realize how grateful I should be living in the 21st century and appreciate history because without history I wouldn’t know how people got their freedom, how people came into places, and in general how the world is what it is. The underground railroad is not a literal railroad, but a name for a 200-year long struggle of breaking free from slavery in America and gaining your basic human rights.