I think people are entitled to their perspective.and I have enjoyed reading the many comments. I personally will be charting a bus,
taking a group the end of the month to visit the center and we will engage in dialog about our experiences. So I'm looking forward to the
visit and will hold any comments about what is or is not until then.
As a researcher of the UGRR, I understand the concerns, so much of
this history is told from a one sided perspective.It is also
refreshing to have so many researchers involved and concerned about
preserving the stories.Often the emphasis is placed on the physical
structures, hidden rooms, quilts, walkways and waterways etc.
whereas the main characters, (the brave people who fled )stories are
often distored or absent and without them there wouldn't be a UGRR.
A Lot of emphasis is being placed on Tourism and Commerialism, Sites
are trying to get a UGRR classification. In my state there are some
counties claiming numerous amount of sites as UGRR. It makes you wonder
if it was that many friendly folks, why would they need the
Underground Railroad, they could just walk right through a town unmolested and without any concern for recapture.
I would like to recommend two books that address some of the myths.
the late Coy Robbins book if you can still find it, devoted chapter
14 of "Reclaiming African Heritage" 1995 published by Heritage Books
Mythicizing The Underground Railroad in this chapter he traces
the roots of One UGRR Legend that appeared in late 1890s and turn of
the century newspapers, articles and journals and compared it to
a story that appears in Wilbur H. Siebert book published in 1898.
In David W. Bight book "Race and Reunion" 2001 published by Harvard
University press pages 231-237 shares some of the same thoughts as
Coy but he address Siebert exclusively.I commend Bennie, Art,
and all the others for their continue contributions to this subject.
It is critical that our ancestors voices are heard. Taking bold,
critical stands were legacies that they left. I understand the plight
and the urgency. It would be geat to have a gathering of the all the
researchers. I know Art, several years ago we discuss our Genealogy
groups coming together (Indiana & Ohio) maybe we should focus on
getting this great group of researchers together.

Peace,
Dona