Underground Railroad 2020

(Photo Courtesy of https://archives.delaware.gov/historical-markers-map/thomas-garrett-underground-railroad-stationmaster/)

Our Story begins inside the home of Thomas Garrett, of Wilmington, Delaware. He is a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, and he's a white man.

In real history, Garrett ran an Underground Railroad line from Wilmington to Philadelphia in partnership with William Still in Philly, and they helped hundreds of people escape from slavery to freedom across the border of the Mason-Dixon Line.

We imagine a world of an Underground Railroad by 2020 rules…

Thomas Garrett is sound asleep, though not too soundly, not in his “business,” when he hears a knock at the door."

“What is it Tommy? " exclaims his wife.

“Keep quiet,” Garrett answers, “we need to make sure it's not rapists or drug smugglers.”

He grabs his pistol and he goes cautiously to the door. At the door he sees a dark-skinned woman holding a dark-skinned child.

“Please help us,” the ragged and exhausted-looking woman at the door pleads. “I've come a long way to get here. Here, I understand, I can be safe.”

Garrett looks at the woman and asks, “where did you come from?”

The woman answers, “I've come from deep in the South to get to your door, where I hear the wretched masses like me could yearn to be free... and safe.”

“Oh,” says Garrett. “You are from the southern parts of America.. From South America.”

“Please understand my predicament,” he continues, “a great many people come knocking on my door at all hours of the night, and all plead for help to get to freedom and safety, but we can’t be sure that everyone who knocks at the door is telling the truth. Are you sure you were in real danger?” “Look to my baby,” says the woman, “surely this child speaks to my plight. She had a brother, an older one, and he was taken from me and sent far away. The man who took him said he’d be part of cotton picking line, for the harvest”

“Are you saying your son was to be put in some part of work-gang?” queried Garrett, “That he is now a part of a gang? That does sound serious, but surely you must understand, the rules are different now, and the people up North just can’t take in everyone who says they are in danger, or that their kids are being taken from them for gangs. We need to make sure the danger is real and that you aren’t just here because you are seeking higher wages than you currently earn on the plantation. Can anyone else verify that you were in real danger? Where, specifically, did you live? Do you have any friends or family up North that can vouch for you”

“Why, I am sure I have people that can vouch for me, but they, too, had to run away and sneak North, so I would not want to name them, especially if it would mean they get caught and sent back South by the authorities. There are people who know the conditions, and understand the dangers and abuses we are experiencing in the South of America, but I don’t want to name any one person who knows me. There are eyes and ears everywhere, looking to send us back, or to rat us out to the people looking for us. This was a desperate choice I made, and a huge risk. When I saw them eyeing up my daughter, I had to go. I had already lost a son to the gang, I didn’t want to lose a daughter to unChristian things.” All this the woman said with tears welling in her eyes and the child nuzzled in her chest.

Garret contemplated a minute before responding, “that is a very dramatic story for sure, but you have got to understand the position I am in, at the moment. There are a lot of people up here who are very upset. So many of you are running away and expect us to take you in and protect you, but too often, we end up having to support you after your exodus. There is a proper and legal way to leave the South of America, with proper paperwork and permission, but instead people like you are just running, knocking on our doors and expecting us to help. It is quite a burden on us. There is no way for us to tell if you are in real trouble, or just seeking a pay day, and none of you talk, or name names, so we can’t verify your stories. The people are upset, and complain that you come and take jobs away from people who were here first, and that you bring violence and diseases with you.”

“I want to help you, I really do, and if your story is as dire as you make it out to be, it is the kind thing to do, but we can’t just open up the floodgates to these runaways, or else it will destabilize the economy, and bad people will surely come in with all the people who really are in need. All of this means the government instituted a new policy. They call it ‘Wait in Virginia.’ We want to examine each story for what it is worth, and judge each one individually. Because so few of you name names, it takes time, but while you wait for a judge to hear your case, you must wait in Virginia.

The woman let out a howl, “but don’t you see, I am not safe in Virginia. I came to you because I am trying to escape from life in Virginia, a dangerous life, where my kids get snatched, I get assaulted and I, and millions like me, are preyed upon by unscrupulous men. I am trying to get to freedom North of the border, Mason-Dixon Line, where I might have a chance to be free, to get paid for my work, and to raise my daughter in greater safety.” “Yes, yes,” answered Garrett dismissively,” I understand that this is the story, but I don’t know if you’ve just been coached to say that or not. I don’t even know if this is really your child, or just some prop you are using to elicit sympathy from me. I want to help everyone who really needs it, but I need to make sure that you really need it, and there are laws and rules that we must follow. No one is above the law, and you need to realize that your life, if it is truly as you described it, is legal, and your running here is, likely, illegal, and I will not aid and abet a fugitive from the law, an illegal, so please, leave me your name and return to Virginia. In a few weeks someone will contact you to let you know when you can appear before a judge to tell your story. If you don’t do this and just sneak north, you can be arrested and we will send you back where you came from.” The woman fell to her knees sobbing, still clutching the child, who was now awake and looking around with a confused look on her face. “They told me things were better in the North, that I could find sanctuary in the North, that this was a welcoming place for “the wretched of the Earth.” I don’t know what I can do now….

Garrett apologized, and closed his door and bolted the lock. He went back to bed. HIs wife was sitting up looking at him. “What was it dear?”

“Another one of these runaways expecting us to take them in and take care of them. I really wish we could do more, but OUR hands are tied, and OUR freedom bound.”