Civil War | Finding Freedom | 8

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2022

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

During the Civil War, Black people in America took the opportunity to free themselves and to serve the Union cause. At great personal risk, tens of thousands of refugees -- men, women and children -- fled Southern slave owners for Union lines. They enlisted in the Union Army and served as cooks, laundresses, nurses and even spies. On today’s show, Wayne State University history professor Kidada Williams joins host Lindsay Graham for a conversation about the Black experience during the Civil War. Professor Williams is host of the podcast Seizing Freedom, which tells stories of Black Americans’ quest for liberty, equality and joy.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon music.
0:05.6	Download the app today.
0:07.0	Imagine it's a hot, moonless night in July 1863 in Hanover County, Virginia.
0:24.0	For years, you and your family have been enslaved on a plantation here.
0:27.8	Earlier tonight, when a skirmish broke out nearby between Union and Confederate soldiers,
0:32.4	you seized your chance to escape with your six children and one grandchild in tow.
0:37.6	You're trying to flee to King William County, which is behind Union lines.
0:42.0	But first, you'll need to cross the Pumungi River, and the only bridge in the area has been
0:46.0	destroyed.
0:47.0	You're desperate to find help, so you're leading your children to your brother John's
0:50.8	cabin in the woods.
0:52.2	Come on, children.
0:53.2	We're nearly there.
0:55.0	You and your family weave your way through the dense forest.
0:57.9	Your hands are torn and bleeding from parting the thorny bushes in your path.
1:02.2	And at last, you come up to a cabin in a small clearing.
1:05.7	You turn to the children and hold a finger to your lips.
1:08.2	All right, be quiet.
1:10.2	All of you, you need to stay here while I go and talk to Uncle John.
1:14.8	Don't move a muscle until I come back.
1:17.6	You hand the pot you've been carrying to your nine-year-old son, George, walk into the
1:21.5	clearing.
	...

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