Bound for the Future: Child Heroes of the Underground Railroad : Child Heroes of the Underground Railroad

Through careful, detailed consideration of a host of primary documents about the young activists who formed the Underground Railroad's underappreciated operational workforce, this book offers fresh insight to the complex question, "Who ended slavery?" Bound for the Future: Child Heroes of the Underground Railroad illuminates the vital contributions of specific, underappreciated child activists within the extremely local circumstances of their daily work. It also provides meaningful context to the actions of these young activists within the much broader social practice of resisting slavery, and offers fresh insight into the complicated question of who was responsible for ending slavery. Through a thorough examination of these subjects, author Jonathan Shectman proves his central thesis: in many specific cases, children were the essential lifeblood of the Underground Railroad's operational workforce. This text will appeal to wide range of readers, including young students, educators, scholars, and anyone seeking a fresh perspective on civil rights, anti-slavery activism, and U.S. history. Shectman, a science educator and author, tells the stories of Quaker children, fugitive slave children, and young free blacks in this study of the vital role of children in keeping the Underground Railroad alive. An epilogue describes the current plight of child slave laborers around the world and compares efforts to help them to the Underground Railroad. The book is intended for college students, educators, scholars, and general readers. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Discusses the role of children in the Underground Railroad and argues that child activists were essential to its operational workforce.