Why the Underground Railroad?
When Jeanne Nametz, Director of Religious Education at USR, saw a PBS special on the Underground Railroad in New Jersey it sparked a spirited reflection and an idea – how could we share some of these unknown stories with our UU family and ignite the same reaction? And how does history form our thinking, relate to today and press forward our understanding and empathy towards others while reinforcing our UU values, including USR’s Anti-Racism Commitment to learn about, and dismantle, racism? As a predominantly white culture congregation, we recognized that these stories are not our own, and so we tried to walk with great reverence and care.
We gathered to explore how to illustrate the journey towards liberation that drove some desperate African Americans to escape enslavement through the Underground Railroad. This project became part of a journey towards reckoning with the traditional historical narrative and racial justice. It led to telling stories of communities or towering figures over nine services capturing the complexity of the Underground Railroad in New Jersey. We don’t want to romanticize this history but to center our telling with stories about freed African Americans who were the majority of conduits on the Underground Railroad or who had great influence in shaping the system or society at the time. These tales are remarkable – and we want to be clear that there were many more stories, stories of individuals that we will never know. Stories of people who fell off the arc of justice on their way to liberation.
What does this mean for today?
- By highlighting individuals and places we recognize struggle, courage and injustice. By remembering the names of those who were victims of injustice past and present we affirm each person’s worth and dignity.
- By highlighting the journey we recognize action in the fight for liberation. It reminds us of the protests that erupted this summer over racial injustice and our own work for social justice.
- By highlighting local New Jersey history we recognize untold history in our own backyard. By focusing on the local we signify that the stories and struggles of our neighbors will not be forgotten.
- By highlighting liberation we recognize the generational trauma that motivates the leaders of today’s Black liberation movements in the quest for racial justice.
It is our goal to deepen our commitment to our USR anti-racism statement, adopted by the congregation in 2002, which impels us to carry out a commitment to anti-racism “in the life and culture of the congregation through our policies, programs and practices as we continue to learn about racism.” And “to develop and work to implement strategies that dismantle racism through our adult religious education, children’s religious education, Sunday services, and community outreach and action.”
USR Webpage
This Underground Railroad page provides links to the stories and references to readings and places to visit in New Jersey that are designated stops on the Underground Railroad. If you have any comments or questions about the project, please feel free to reach out to any member of the team via 113cottage@gmail.com. We welcome your feedback.
Jeanne Nametz, Director of Religious Education; Jack Lohr; Marilyn Maney; Kristin Plumley
The Project
Each week we focused on a place, and people, involved in the struggle of enslaved African Americans seeking freedom in the 19th century. To appreciate the project in context, please view the entire January 24 Sunday service, which was devoted to our goal to “Keep On Moving Forward…” (https://youtu.be/VyuOLMom2YA)
Part of the project was a shoe collection! We collected 940 pairs of shoes and donated them to Soles4Souls (https://soles4souls.org). See what these shoes mean: https://youtu.be/LwhjFmquyS0.
We invite you to join our journey, watching each week’s video, marking your copy of the map provided in the link below, and going deeper through the links to more information. Click here to download the map.
Please click on the links below the map to watch each Sunday’s video from the New Jersey Underground Railroad initiative, and to view additional resources. This page will be updated regularly, especially to incorporate feedback.
(click on image to enlarge)
#9 Paterson
Inter-Racial Collaboration and the Power of Monuments
The story of the cooperative work of William Van Rensalier and Josiah Huntoon of Paterson.
Running time: 13:56 Watch video >
#8 Ridgewood
Black Union Soldiers in the Civil War
Locating the six veterans of the US “Colored Troops” buried in Valleau Cemetery, Ridgewood, NJ. The next-to-last stop on our Underground Railroad initiative.
Running time: 11:09 Watch video >
#7 East Brunswick, The Van Wickle Slave Ring
Recovering memory: Lost Souls Memorial Project
Powerful NJ men sought to profit from the sale of enslaved Black persons. A judge tapped his influential networks, which included the governor, ship captains and fellow judges, to purchase enslaved persons illegally.
Running time: 12:01 Watch video >
To explore the history, read additional resources, browse the list of victims and learn about the memoralization of the victims contact the Lost Souls Memorial Project at: https://lostsoulsmemorialnj.org
#6 Newark
“A Longer Fight, A Longer Win”
Presented by Director of Religious Education Jeanne Nametz, with introduction by Rev. Sarah Lenzi and video courtesy of Rutgers University-Newark and artist/historian Noelle Williams.
Running time: 11:22 Watch video >
#5 Colemantown, Mount Laurel & The Still Family
Mount Laurel, NJ, and James & William Still
“The Black Doctor of the Pines” and “The Father of the Underground Railroad”
Running time: 9:49 Watch video >
A quick guide to the Still Family:
https://libguides.rowan.edu/c.php?g=248151&p=1652361
Rowan College Library Guide
Places to visit:
http://www.drjamesstillcenter.org
Dr James Still Educational Center, Medford, NJ
https://www.colemantownfoundation.org/brochure.html
Mount Laurel, NJ
https://econsultsolutions.com/the-william-still-house-was-added-to-the-philadelphia-
register-of-historic-places-this-year/
Philadelphia, Pa
References:
“Early Recollections and Life of Dr. James Still (1877)”
autobiography by Dr. James Still
“William Still and the Underground Railroad” by Kathleen Stevens (excerpt)
Middle school – adult
More on the Mount Laurel Doctrine:
https://fairsharehodev.wpengine.com/resources/legal-documents-2/
#4 Timbuctoo: A Community Fights Back
Westampton, NJ, and The Former Community of Timbuctoo
The story of Perry Simmons, a self-emancipated Black man.
Running time: 7:32 Watch video >
Timbuctoo Historical Society: https://timbuctoonj.com
#3 Small Gloucester: Small Church with a Larger Purpose
Woolwich, NJ, and The Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
The congregation near Swedesboro celebrates its connection to the UGRR.
Running time: 6:45 Watch video >
Two articles that remind us of the realities faced by residents of Black communities all over New Jersey:
Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey) · Thu, Dec 15, 1881 (view)
Evening Journal (Vineland, New Jersey) · Sat, Dec 24, 1881 (view)
- Children’s book: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. Through story, the author explores Jim Crow segregation, Ages 10+
- Children’s Book: We Came to America, by Faith Ringgold. Explores different ways people arrived in America, for ages 4-8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIEgHgLdWUQ
#2 Woman of Courage: Harriet Tubman
Cape May and Harriet Tubman
NJ’s connection to “Moses” in the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May.
Running time: 10:43 Watch video >
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman
National Women’s History Museum
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-tubman
For Youth
Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman
Lesa Cline-Ransome (available in many local libraries)
Film
Harriet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqoEs4cG6Uw (trailer on YouTube, film available on streaming services)
Visit
Harriet Tubman Museum, Cape May, New Jersey
https://www.harriettubmanmuseum.org
Share Your Bounty
Participate in our shoe collection! Donate unwanted shoes of any type, in any shape and any size to Soles4Souls (https://soles4souls.org). Our donation box is on the porch at REEB. Just drop off your shoes there. Contact Stephanie Gannon for more details.
#1 Cities of Refuge: Lawnside
Lawnside (formerly Free Haven/Snow Hill)
Historic Black town in NJ that welcomed and protected freedom-seekers.
Running time:9:59 Watch video >
A Racial Justice Pilgrimage Site:
Lawnside Underground Railroad Museum
https://www.petermotthouse.org/learn/
