I'm told I'm a statistic. I'm told that my young black sisters are disease-ridden... but we are greater than what society tells us we are.
Jurnee Smollett-BellRead
Oftentimes, a history book in school will talk about the Underground Railroad as if it's one sentence. But thousands of people decided to run, and they single-handedly changed the trajectory of our nation. By running to the North, they put a face to slavery, which recruited a lot of abolitionists.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the significant impact of individuals in the fight against slavery through their courageous actions.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell emphasizes that the Underground Railroad was not merely a historical footnote but a monumental movement fueled by the bravery of countless individuals who escaped slavery. Their actions brought attention to the harsh realities of slavery, mobilizing support for abolitionists and altering the course of American history.
Themes
Underground RailroadAbolitionSlaveryCourageHistory
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on American history, this quote can serve to inspire students about the importance of individual actions in social movements.
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