CHAPTER 2. A GROWING CROSSROADS CITY, 1830-1880
SECTION 2. AFRICAN AMERICANS IN COLUMBUS
In Chapter 1, you learned about Arthur Boke, Jr., the first African American to live in Franklinton. There were very few other African Americans living in the area during Boke's childhood. There were only 43 African Americans living in Franklin county in 1810, and 288 in 1830. That began to change in the mid-1800s. By 1850, there were about 1,600 African Americans in the county.
The "Free" State of Ohio
In the early and mid-1800s, many states south of Ohio allowed slavery. Enslaved African Americans were forced to live and work on large farms (called plantations) in these states. They did not have the rights and freedoms that white Americans had. Ohio was considered a free state because it did not allow slavery. This led many enslaved men, women, and children to escape from slavery and cross over the Ohio River into Ohio.
Even though Ohio did not allow slavery, African Americans who escaped slavery were still not completely safe. They could be captured and returned into slavery in the state they left. Because of this fact, many of them wanted to continue moving north into Canada where slavery was not allowed, and they could not be sent back into slavery.
There were also "Black Laws" in Ohio. These laws limited what jobs African Americans could work. The laws also stated that whites could not hire African Americans who did not have proof of freedom. Whites were also required to turn in African Americans who had escaped from slavery. Another law in the United States, called the Fugitive Slave Law, made it against the law to provide food, shelter, or other assistance to people who escaped from slavery.
Even though Ohio did not allow slavery, African Americans who escaped slavery were still not completely safe. They could be captured and returned into slavery in the state they left. Because of this fact, many of them wanted to continue moving north into Canada where slavery was not allowed, and they could not be sent back into slavery.
There were also "Black Laws" in Ohio. These laws limited what jobs African Americans could work. The laws also stated that whites could not hire African Americans who did not have proof of freedom. Whites were also required to turn in African Americans who had escaped from slavery. Another law in the United States, called the Fugitive Slave Law, made it against the law to provide food, shelter, or other assistance to people who escaped from slavery.
The Underground Railroad
Some people in Columbus helped African Americans find freedom from slavery. These men and women were leaders of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad, but a network of "safe houses" along roads leading further north. It was called "underground" because it was a secret.
James Poindexter was an African-American minister and barber. He came to Columbus in 1838 and helped lead the Underground Railroad. Poindexter and other African Americans hid escaped persons in attics, barns, and cellars. At night, they would travel by wagon to safe houses further north. Many of these safe houses were located along High Street, Cleveland Avenue, Sunbury Road, and Westerville Road.
The Underground Railroad is a challenging topics for historians. We do not always know for certain whether a house was part of this network of safe houses. Since the Underground Railroad was against the law and a secret, we do not always have written records left behind to provide evidence. Historians sometimes have to use other types of evidence. For example, there may oral traditions passed down from one generation to the next that tell about Underground Railroad activities. A house itself may have some clues. There may be secret rooms in the cellar (basement) or barn. But that was not always the case, and sometimes those rooms may have been simply used to store food in cool areas.
James Poindexter was an African-American minister and barber. He came to Columbus in 1838 and helped lead the Underground Railroad. Poindexter and other African Americans hid escaped persons in attics, barns, and cellars. At night, they would travel by wagon to safe houses further north. Many of these safe houses were located along High Street, Cleveland Avenue, Sunbury Road, and Westerville Road.
The Underground Railroad is a challenging topics for historians. We do not always know for certain whether a house was part of this network of safe houses. Since the Underground Railroad was against the law and a secret, we do not always have written records left behind to provide evidence. Historians sometimes have to use other types of evidence. For example, there may oral traditions passed down from one generation to the next that tell about Underground Railroad activities. A house itself may have some clues. There may be secret rooms in the cellar (basement) or barn. But that was not always the case, and sometimes those rooms may have been simply used to store food in cool areas.
Critical Thinking Questions
In Chapter 1, Section 3, you learned about the purpose of laws in a state. Why do we have laws? Think about the Black Laws in Ohio and the Fugitive Slave Law. Do you think these laws did what laws are supposed to do? Do you think it was right for people to break these laws?