
- Playing
- Aha Moment: Underground Railroad
- From
- Zak Rosen
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
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Thumbs up.Absolutely outstanding work. |
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Very powerful pieceI 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






Megan Sukys
Posted on February 24, 2011 at 10:58 PM | Permalink
History Matters Now
Lovely story that weaves the past and the present for one woman.