When I learned about the Underground Railroad during my US History classes in high school it was about the pathway north towards Canada with key figures like Harriet Tubman, Isaac Hopper, and John Brown. From what I’ve noticed, this lesson has been consistent across the entire country. However, my mind was blown away when I recently found out that there was another trail that led slaves south towards Mexico in their journey towards freedom. Unsurprisingly, countries like Mexico were years ahead of the US with human and civil rights especially when it came to issues like slavery. In Mexico, this step in the right direction came about with the leadership of individuals like Vicente Guerrero. Vicente Guerrero, a mestizo farmer of African descent, became the president after helping lead Mexico towards independence from Spanish rule in 1821. Due to his experiences and background, Guerrero understood the trials and tribulations that people of color faced under the rules of white people in power. With this knowledge and leadership position, he quickly began to dismantle slavery in the country and accomplished abolishment by 1829. Meanwhile, in the US slaves were still decades away from liberation and those slaves in the deep south states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas sought the freedom found in Mexico. This led to the birth of the unknown underground railroad to Mexico.
A huge reason why this pathway to freedom is widely unknown is that it was not exactly the most organized route. Along the border between Texas and Mexico, there were several Tejano families that offered refuge. At these houses, slaves would recover and prepare for their journey across the treacherous waters of Rio Grande. Amazingly, some slaves crossed the river using the very tool of the system that dominated their lives...cotton. There are several stories of slaves who created floating devices out of cotton to cross the river into Mexico and kickstart their new lives as free humans. Although the journey had its obstacles, it offered an amazing reward at the end once they were on Mexican land where the commerce, trade, and hunting of escaped slaves was completely illegal and punishable by law. Due to the lack of organization, it is complicated to have an accurate estimate of the number of slaves that escaped to Mexico with the numbers ranging anywhere from 3,000 to 100,000 escapees. Now, I understand that the organization and numbers aren’t as aligned and accurate as of the facts for the Underground Railroad that led slaves north but I still believe this bit of information should definitely be taught in US history classes. Especially, since the U.S. government officially recognized this unknown underground railroad in 1990, Public Law 101-628, to commemorate the different routes that helped slaves escape towards freedom. This quick tidbit of history also brings to light the purpose of our campaign as it shows a physical representation of the myriad ways in which Tu Lucha Es Mi Lucha or Your Fight is My Fight! Written By: Eduardo Abreu If you're interested in learning more about this topic check out these links that offer everything you need to know: Pathways To Freedom South To Freedom
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