William M. Mitchell, a free-born Black overseer from North Carolina, transitioned from managing slaves to becoming a prominent abolitionist after a religious awakening. His 1860 book on the Underground Railroad is the only extensive recounting by a participant published while slavery was still legal in the U.S. Fleeting from danger, Mitchellâs writings emerged from Toronto, where he was safeguarded against pro-slavery reprisals. His work highlights the Underground Railroad's critical role in liberating enslaved individuals while carefully preserving its secret operations in a period marked by the Fugitive Slave Act.
Mitchell's book is the only full-length work published on the Underground Railroad by a participant while slavery was still legal in the United States and actions taken by abolitionists to help free the enslaved were illegal.
Mitchell maintains the integrity and secrecy of the Underground Railroad throughout, emphasizing how essential its operations were for the safety of the enslaved.
The Underground Railroad was organized to help the enslaved find freedom in Northern free states, Canada, Mexico, or Indian Territory, beyond the reach of slave-catchers.
His experience managing enslaved individuals profoundly transformed him, leading to a religious awakening that ultimately fueled his abolitionist convictions.
Collection
[
|
...
]