The Film: Interview Transcripts: James Oliver Horton

James Oliver Horton, Ph.D., historian on
importance of Western Pennsylvania
One of the things that is important to understand is that Western and Southern Pennsylvania was a terribly important place because it was on the border of slavery.  You know, it is one thing to think about getting to Canada.  It is one thing to think about getting to the major cities of the North, to Boston, to New York, but, you know, that’s a long way, walking, and so the first places you make contact with freedom are often the most important places and when you got to those places, then it was a matter of consolidating your supplies of getting enough wherewithal  to continue the journey, and often people did stay in these places in Western Pennsylvania and Southern Pennsylvania for a period of time while they had to work so that they could make enough money to move forward.  It did often take months or years to move on to the really safe haven of Canada.  During that period, you had to depend upon friends or strangers who would help you along, who would provide a place for you to stay, who would provide clothing, you know, basic kinds of things.  Coming out of the South, a warm climate, going into the North, a cold climate, what would you do for winter coats?  These are simple human things that become really important things when you think about the practical demands of escape.  And so, the first places that you contacted, whether they be in Southern Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, various parts of the mid-west, these are places that are particularly important because it was often in these places where conditions were set that would determine whether you would be successful or whether you would fail in your attempt to escape.

economic impact of slavery

the role of free blacks

inter-racial alliances

the decision to escape

John Brown

black patriotism

.