15% off on your first order Click here to sign up
Sign up for updates, news, first look at products and more.
CLASS OVERVIEW
Hear about Gwen Ebron’s trip to Egypt and see pictures.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
N/A
N/A
N/A
CLASS OVERVIEW
Learn about the differences and similarities of the Underground Railroad going North and South. Make a decision, if you are going to run, how, whe,n and why? Learn about the symbols the Spirituals held for those planning to run.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
YouTube: Echoes of the Nazarene
Answer the question for yourself, would you run, how and why. Review video.
N/A
CLASS OVERVIEW
Listen to the review of last week’s lesson and learn about the symbols on a patchwork quilt that gave directions to the conductor for the journey. Decide if you would be a Conductor or a Station Master or both.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
N/A
N/A
CLASS OVERVIEW
Learn about the codes, signs and symbols of the Northern Underground Railroad.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
N/A
Words used to describe the place that the enslaved were running to:
Canaan – Canada
Heaven – Canada
River Jordan – Ohio River
Names for people who were taking enslaved people to freedom:
Conductor
Shepherd
Preacher
Moses – Harriet Tubman
Names for places people would stay:
Station Master – the name of the person who owned the safe house
Safe House
Stop
Station
Depot
Line – line referred to the road from one safe house to another
Names for passengers:
Cargo
Freight
Passenger
Baggage
Packages
Parcel
Secret word: friend of a friend
Symbols:
Candle in the window
Patchwork quilt
Statue holding a lantern – this represented the statue of Jacobs – a young man who froze to death while holding a lantern for George Washington as he crossed the river. George Washington made a statue of him to honor him for his bravery and service. We have seen these statues on lawns in the 60s and hated them because they seemed like they were disrespectful to Black people, but in reality they were symbols for the statue of Jocko Graves and also used on the Underground Railroad.
Questions: What was the name of the Southern Underground Railroad?
Answer: The Saltwater Underground Railroad
CLASS OVERVIEW
This is the review of the Saltwater Underground Railroad.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
N/A
The Southbound Underground Railroad—often called the Saltwater Railroad—is a powerful and under-taught chapter of resistance and liberation. It complements the more widely known northbound routes to Canada, but instead carried enslaved Africans toward freedom in Spanish Florida, Mexico, the British-controlled Bahamas, and even Africa. Here’s a full breakdown:
🌊 The Saltwater Railroad: Overview
– Timeframe: Roughly 1687 to 1861
– First recorded escape to Spanish Florida: 1687
– Peak activity: 1821–1861, especially after the U.S. acquired Florida
– Decline: After the Civil War began in 1861, and slavery was abolished in British territories (1834) and later in the U.S. (1865)
– Destinations:
– Spanish Florida (before U.S. acquisition in 1821)
– Mexico, where slavery was abolished in 1829
– Bahamas, under British rule—slavery abolished in 1834
– Africa, especially Liberia, via colonization and repatriation efforts
🗺️ Key Routes & Methods of Escape
| Destination | Route Taken | Transportation Used
| Florida | From Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina | On foot, through swamps and Seminole lands |
| Bahamas | From South Florida beaches to Nassau | Bahamian boats, dugout canoes, handmade rafts|
| Mexico | From Texas and Louisiana | On foot, horseback, wagons, small boats |
| Africa (Liberia)| Via ports in Charleston, Savannah, Norfolk | Ships chartered by American Colonization Society or Black-led missions |
– Cape Florida Lighthouse (Key Biscayne) was a major launch point for boats heading to the Bahamas
– Fort Mosé, near St. Augustine, Florida, was the first legally sanctioned free Black town in North America, established by Spanish authorities in 1738
🧭 Leaders, Allies & Communities
✊ Black Seminoles
– Enslaved Africans who escaped and joined Seminole communities in Florida
– Later forced west during the Trail of Tears, some escaped again to the Bahamas
🧑✈️ Ship Captains & Sailors
– Bahamian and Caribbean mariners often aided fugitives
– Some sympathetic white and Black sailors helped smuggle escapees
📜 Notable Events
– Creole Revolt (1841): Enslaved people aboard the ship Creole overpowered the crew and sailed to Nassau, freeing over 100 people
🏞️ Fort Mosé Militia
– Black volunteers defended Spanish Florida in exchange for freedom
– Led by figures like Francisco Menéndez, a formerly enslaved African who became a militia leader and community builder
🌍 Why These Destinations?
– Spanish Florida: Spain offered asylum and freedom to escaped slaves who converted to Catholicism and served in the militia
– Mexico: Abolished slavery in 1829 and welcomed Black fugitives from Texas and Louisiana
– Bahamas: British decree in 1825 declared anyone arriving on British soil free; abolition in 1834 sealed its role as a haven
– Africa: Liberia became a destination for repatriated and self-liberated Africans, though motivations and outcomes were complex
Risks & Realities
– Ocean crossings were perilous: storms, pirates, slave catchers
– Many escapees traveled at night, in silence, with no maps
– Some paid for passage; others built their own vessels or relied on community networks.
John Horse
John Horse—also known as Juan Caballo, John Cowaya, and Gopher John—was a towering figure in 19th-century resistance movements, diplomacy, and Black and Indigenous liberation. Born around 1812 in Florida, he was of mixed African, Seminole, and Spanish descent. His life spanned multiple nations, wars, and identities, and he became a protector and patriarch of the Black Seminoles, also known as Seminole Maroons.
🛡️ Warrior and Diplomat
– Second Seminole War (1835–1842): John Horse rose to prominence as a leader of the Black Seminoles fighting alongside the Seminole Nation against U.S. forces.
– Negotiator and Guide: After initial resistance, he agreed to relocate west with the Seminoles in 1837, fearing re-enslavement. He later served as a U.S. Army interpreter and guide.
🌍 Transnational Freedom Fighter
– Flight to Mexico (1849): To escape the threat of slavery, Horse led a group of Black Seminoles and disaffected Indigenous allies to northern Mexico. There, they were granted land and became known as the Mascogos.
– Mexican Army Captain: In exchange for military service against Apache and Comanche raiders, Horse was named El Capitán Juan Caballo by Mexican authorities.
🧭 Legacy and Final Years
– Return to the U.S. (1870): He and many Mascogos settled near Fort Duncan, Texas. Though he didn’t serve directly, his people became the famed Seminole Negro Indian Scouts.
– Assassination Attempt and Final Mission: After surviving an attempt on his life by white Texans, he returned to Mexico and died in 1882 while advocating for his people before President Porfirio Díaz.
John Horse’s life is a testament to transborder resistance, cultural survival, and visionary leadership. He defied the boundaries of race, nation, and empire—crafting a legacy that still resonates in Black Seminole communities today.
N/A
CLASS OVERVIEW
Learn about the Southern Underground Railroad.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:
Sources:
https://youtu.be/7pciH4ptvVQ?si=-cfa58duG6k8LL0k
https://youtube.com/shorts/YDO_HiSK0rY?si=DJB6Rothsv_2vArH
The Southbound Underground Railroad—often called the Saltwater Railroad—is a powerful and under-taught chapter of resistance and liberation. It complements the more widely known northbound routes to Canada, but instead carried enslaved Africans toward freedom in Spanish Florida, Mexico, the British-controlled Bahamas, and even Africa. Here’s a full breakdown:
🌊 The Saltwater Railroad: Overview
– Timeframe: Roughly 1687 to 1861
– First recorded escape to Spanish Florida: 1687
– Peak activity: 1821–1861, especially after the U.S. acquired Florida
– Decline: After the Civil War began in 1861, and slavery was abolished in British territories (1834) and later in the U.S. (1865)
– Destinations:
– Spanish Florida (before U.S. acquisition in 1821)
– Mexico, where slavery was abolished in 1829
– Bahamas, under British rule—slavery abolished in 1834
– Africa, especially Liberia, via colonization and repatriation efforts
🗺️ Key Routes & Methods of Escape
| Destination | Route Taken | Transportation Used
| Florida | From Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina | On foot, through swamps and Seminole lands |
| Bahamas | From South Florida beaches to Nassau | Bahamian boats, dugout canoes, handmade rafts|
| Mexico | From Texas and Louisiana | On foot, horseback, wagons, small boats |
| Africa (Liberia)| Via ports in Charleston, Savannah, Norfolk | Ships chartered by American Colonization Society or Black-led missions |
– Cape Florida Lighthouse (Key Biscayne) was a major launch point for boats heading to the Bahamas
– Fort Mosé, near St. Augustine, Florida, was the first legally sanctioned free Black town in North America, established by Spanish authorities in 1738
🧭 Leaders, Allies & Communities
✊ Black Seminoles
– Enslaved Africans who escaped and joined Seminole communities in Florida
– Later forced west during the Trail of Tears, some escaped again to the Bahamas
🧑✈️ Ship Captains & Sailors
– Bahamian and Caribbean mariners often aided fugitives
– Some sympathetic white and Black sailors helped smuggle escapees
📜 Notable Events
– Creole Revolt (1841): Enslaved people aboard the ship Creole overpowered the crew and sailed to Nassau, freeing over 100 people
🏞️ Fort Mosé Militia
– Black volunteers defended Spanish Florida in exchange for freedom
– Led by figures like Francisco Menéndez, a formerly enslaved African who became a militia leader and community builder
🌍 Why These Destinations?
– Spanish Florida: Spain offered asylum and freedom to escaped slaves who converted to Catholicism and served in the militia
– Mexico: Abolished slavery in 1829 and welcomed Black fugitives from Texas and Louisiana
– Bahamas: British decree in 1825 declared anyone arriving on British soil free; abolition in 1834 sealed its role as a haven
– Africa: Liberia became a destination for repatriated and self-liberated Africans, though motivations and outcomes were complex
Risks & Realities
– Ocean crossings were perilous: storms, pirates, slave catchers
– Many escapees traveled at night, in silence, with no maps
– Some paid for passage; others built their own vessels or relied on community networks.
John Horse
John Horse—also known as Juan Caballo, John Cowaya, and Gopher John—was a towering figure in 19th-century resistance movements, diplomacy, and Black and Indigenous liberation. Born around 1812 in Florida, he was of mixed African, Seminole, and Spanish descent. His life spanned multiple nations, wars, and identities, and he became a protector and patriarch of the Black Seminoles, also known as Seminole Maroons.
🛡️ Warrior and Diplomat
– Second Seminole War (1835–1842): John Horse rose to prominence as a leader of the Black Seminoles fighting alongside the Seminole Nation against U.S. forces.
– Negotiator and Guide: After initial resistance, he agreed to relocate west with the Seminoles in 1837, fearing re-enslavement. He later served as a U.S. Army interpreter and guide.
🌍 Transnational Freedom Fighter
– Flight to Mexico (1849): To escape the threat of slavery, Horse led a group of Black Seminoles and disaffected Indigenous allies to northern Mexico. There, they were granted land and became known as the Mascogos.
– Mexican Army Captain: In exchange for military service against Apache and Comanche raiders, Horse was named El Capitán Juan Caballo by Mexican authorities.
🧭 Legacy and Final Years
– Return to the U.S. (1870): He and many Mascogos settled near Fort Duncan, Texas. Though he didn’t serve directly, his people became the famed Seminole Negro Indian Scouts.
– Assassination Attempt and Final Mission: After surviving an attempt on his life by white Texans, he returned to Mexico and died in 1882 while advocating for his people before President Porfirio Díaz.
John Horse’s life is a testament to transborder resistance, cultural survival, and visionary leadership. He defied the boundaries of race, nation, and empire—crafting a legacy that still resonates in Black Seminole communities today.
N/A
Flashcards
Games
Apparel & Homeware
Travel
Schools
Memberships
Sankofa Club (Children)
About Us