Many thanks to Kate and Renee!

I must confess that my knowledge about the Underground Railroad is limited. The main reason is family geography. My ancestors lived in port cities that hugged the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast from South Carolina and Florida. I always wondered why slaves would ignore the obvious and easy path to freedom to the islands in the Caribbean, to Bermuda and the Bahamas. History of course tells us that they didn't. Why schlepp all the way to Canada or the North when freedom was a boat ride away?

The links that you provided answered some of my questions. It also raised a very grave concern about creating mythological African American history when there is no need to. Our presence and contributions for the last five centuries (and counting) is well documented.

What is most disturbing is that the Quilt story is being taught in our schools as historical fact. I did a google search and was astounded by the number of hits that are linked to school curriculums. For all the incredible and documented family histories found on Afrigeneas and elsewhere why center on a story that is so flawed?

As for Ms. Tobin's retort to critics "angry white quilters" and perhaps African-American Giles Wright:

Let me stop right here. Chirrun please! I just want people to get our history straight.

K Wyer Lane

PS How many slaves passed through the Underground Railroad?