Caption: First Congregational Church of Detroit, Credit: http://www.the-ugrr.org/
Image by: http://www.the-ugrr.org/ 
First Congregational Church of Detroit 

Aha Moment: Underground Railroad

From: Zak Rosen
Length: 04:29

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Therese Peterson started volunteering as an actor in the the Underground Railroad Reenactment tour in late 2005. She says that if she wasn't given the opportunity to play the part of the conductor, she might not be with us today. Therese takes us through the tour, and tells us how being a conductor changed her forever. Read the full description.

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The Underground Railroad was an informal but vast network of people who helped slaves escape from their holders in the 1800's.  It's estimated that during its height…between 1810 and 1860…The Underground Railroad helped over 30-thousand people escape enslavement. 

 

The First Congregational Church of Detroit was known for being a safe house for escaped slaves to sleep and eat along their journey.  Today the church, which has since moved to midtown Detroit, plays host to the Underground Railroad Living Museum. 

 

Volunteer actors lead tours Monday through Saturday in the church's basement.  The walking tours from slavery to Freedom last about 40 minutes, but they represent a grueling and profoundly dangerous yearlong journey from Oak Alley Louisiana to the Canadian border, northeast of Detroit, Michigan.  The tours are lead by conductors, which are in the case of this reenactment, escaped slaves as well. 


Therese Peterson started volunteering as an actor in the Confrontational Church's tour in late 2005.  She says that if she wasn't given the opportunity to play the part of the conductor…she might not be with us today.  Therese takes us through the tour…and tells us how being a conductor changed her forever. reenactment

 

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Piece Description

The Underground Railroad was an informal but vast network of people who helped slaves escape from their holders in the 1800's.  It's estimated that during its height…between 1810 and 1860…The Underground Railroad helped over 30-thousand people escape enslavement. 

 

The First Congregational Church of Detroit was known for being a safe house for escaped slaves to sleep and eat along their journey.  Today the church, which has since moved to midtown Detroit, plays host to the Underground Railroad Living Museum. 

 

Volunteer actors lead tours Monday through Saturday in the church's basement.  The walking tours from slavery to Freedom last about 40 minutes, but they represent a grueling and profoundly dangerous yearlong journey from Oak Alley Louisiana to the Canadian border, northeast of Detroit, Michigan.  The tours are lead by conductors, which are in the case of this reenactment, escaped slaves as well. 


Therese Peterson started volunteering as an actor in the Confrontational Church's tour in late 2005.  She says that if she wasn't given the opportunity to play the part of the conductor…she might not be with us today.  Therese takes us through the tour…and tells us how being a conductor changed her forever. reenactment

 

3 Comments Atom Feed

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History Matters Now

Lovely story that weaves the past and the present for one woman.

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Thumbs up.

Absolutely outstanding work.

Caption: PRX default User image

Very powerful piece

I loved this piece... very powerful and moving.

Broadcast History

Studio 360, April 31

Timing and Cues

Narrator comes in at :12
End music runs from 3:30 - End.

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

The Underground Railroad was an informal but vast network of people who helped slaves escape from their holders in the 1800's. It's estimated that during its height…between 1810 and 1860…The Underground Railroad helped over 30 thousand people escape enslavement.

The First Congregational Church of Detroit was known for being a safe house for escaped slaves to sleep and eat along their journey. Today the church…which has since moved to midtown Detroit…plays host to the Underground Railroad Living Museum.


Volunteer actors lead tours Monday through Saturday in the church's basement. The walking tours from slavery to Freedom last about 40 minutes…but they represent a grueling and profoundly dangerous yearlong journey from Oak Alley Louisiana to the Canadian border, northeast of Detroit, Michigan. The tours are lead by conductors…which are in the case of this re-enactment…escaped slaves as well.

Therese Peterson started volunteering as an actor in the Confrontational Church's tour in late 2005. She says that if she wasn't given the opportunity to play the part of the conductor…she might not be with us today. As part of our A-Ha moment series…Therese takes us through the tour…and tells us how being a conductor changed her forever.

OUTRO:

Additional Credits

Jenny Lawton, Editor

Related Website

http://www.the-ugrr.org/home/index.asp?ID=4, http://www.studio360.org/aha/