William Still: The Unsung Hero of the Underground Railroad

Welcome to another compelling episode of Unfit to Be Bound: Black History Unchained on the NBG Podcast Network. Join host Professor Freedom X. Justice as we delve into the extraordinary life of William Still, a man whose unwavering courage and strategic brilliance earned him the title of the "Father of the Underground Railroad."

Born free in 1821, Still's life was shaped by his family's haunting history of enslavement. His journey from a self-taught clerk to a key figure in the abolitionist movement is a testament to his relentless pursuit of freedom for all. Discover how Still meticulously documented the stories of those he helped, creating a vital historical record that preserved the humanity of countless individuals.

Experience the emotional reunion of Still with his long-lost brother, Peter, and learn how this pivotal moment reinforced his dedication to the cause. With the constant threat of capture under the Fugitive Slave Act, Still's bravery knew no bounds as he collaborated with other abolitionist icons like Harriet Tubman and Thomas Garrett.

Explore how William Still's legacy continues to inspire and remind us that history is shaped by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Don't miss this inspiring journey of resilience, hope, and the unyielding fight for justice.

00:00:02 --> 00:00:08 Welcome back to Unfit to Be Bound, Black History Unchained on the MBG Podcast
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 Network, where we uncover the stories of Black men and women whose courage and
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 resilience defy the harshest odds.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:21 I'm your host, Professor Freedom X Justice, and today we're going to explore
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 the remarkable life of a man who played a key role in one of the most daring
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 and impactful movements in American history, the Underground Railroad.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 His name is William Steele, and while his story may not be as well known as
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 others, he is often called the father of the Underground Railroad.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 Through sheer determination, strategic thinking, and compassion,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 Steele helped lead thousands of enslaved people to freedom.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 His efforts changed lives and transformed the very fabric of the nation.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:58 William Steele was born free on October 7, 1821 in Burlington County,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:03 New Jersey. He was the youngest of 18 children born to parents who had escaped slavery.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:08 His mother, Charity, had fled from Maryland, leaving behind two of her children,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 including William's older brother, Peter, who remained enslaved.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 Although still grew up free, his family's history of enslavement haunted him,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:22 and the deep scars left by slavery on his family fueled his lifelong commitment to ending it.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 Growing up in a free black family in the North wasn't without its challenges.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 The constant fear that his family could be captured and returned to slavery
00:01:30 --> 00:01:36 loomed over him, despite his family's hardships, still had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:41 Though he had little formal education, he taught himself to read and write.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 This self-education would later become one of his greatest assets as he documented
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 the stories of the hundreds of people he helped escape through the Underground Railroad.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:57 In 1844, Steele moved to Philadelphia, a hotbed of abolitionist activity,
00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 where he took a job as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:07 This was a pivotal moment in his life as it gave him direct access to the movement
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 that would shape his legacy.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:13 Philadelphia was a key city of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret
00:02:13 --> 00:02:19 routes and safe houses used to help enslaved people escape to free states in Canada.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:24 As Still settled into his role at the Anti-Slavery Society, he became more involved
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 in organizing and facilitating these escapes.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:32 But William Still wasn't just a clerk. He was an innovator, a strategist,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:37 and a deeply compassionate human being who understood that every person he helped
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 was more than just a fugitive.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:42 They were individuals with stories, families, and dreams.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 Still had a methodical approach to the Underground Railroad.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:51 His role was unique in that he meticulously documented the stories of the freedom
00:02:51 --> 00:02:56 seekers who assisted, creating a historical record that has become an invaluable
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 resource for understanding the personal experiences of enslaved people.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:05 He kept detailed records, names, places of origin, and details of their journeys.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:10 These were not just dry facts. They were stories of survival and triumph,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:15 of families torn apart and reunited, of people reclaiming their humanity in
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 the face of a system that tried to strip them of it.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 And that's what makes William Steele such an important figure in black history.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 He didn't just help people escape, he preserved their stories for future generations.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:34 One of the most heart-wrenching and inspiring parts of William Steele's life
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 occurred in 1850 when a man walked
00:03:36 --> 00:03:41 into the Anti-Slavery Society's office seeking help to escape slavery.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 This man was none other than William Steele's long-lost brother, Peter Steele.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 You'll recall that Peter had been left behind in Maryland when their mother fled years earlier.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 In an extraordinary twist of fate, William, who had never met Peter,
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 learned through their conversation that they were brothers. Peter had spent
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 more than 40 years in bondage, and through the Underground Railroad,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 he had finally made his way to freedom.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:10 The reunion of these two brothers is a testament to the resilience of the human
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 spirit and the power of hope.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Imagine the emotion of that moment.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:20 Two brothers separated by the brutal system of slavery, reunited by chance through
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 their shared quest for freedom.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:26 This reunion reaffirmed William Still's commitment to his work,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:31 and it gave him the strength to continue his efforts, knowing that he had not
00:04:31 --> 00:04:36 only helped his brother, but was also helping countless others find their way to freedom.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:43 Over the years, William Still would go on to help an estimated 800 enslaved
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 people escape to freedom. His work was dangerous.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:52 The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 had made it legal for enslavers to pursue and
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 capture runaway slaves even in free state,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 meaning that anyone caught aiding freedom seekers faced severe punishment,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:04 still operated in secrecy, constantly under the threat of being discovered.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 Despite this, he was undeterred.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:12 Steele worked with other prominent abolitionists, including Harriet Tubman,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:17 known as the Moses of her people, and Thomas Garrett, a Quaker abolitionist.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 Together, they formed a tight-knit community of activists who were willing to
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 risk everything for the cause of freedom.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 Steele's home in Philadelphia became one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 He provided food, clothing, and shelter to those passing through and often helping
00:05:33 --> 00:05:38 them arrange passage to Canada where they could live without the threat of recapture.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 But Steele's contribution to the abolitionist movement didn't end with his direct
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 involvement in the Underground Railroad.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:52 In 1872, long after the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:56 William Steele published The Underground Railroad, a book that remains one of
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 the most important historical documents of the era.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:06 In it, he recounts the stories of men and women he helped, preserving their voices for posterity.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:11 This book is more than just a historical record. It's a powerful testament to
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 the bravery and resilience of the human spirit.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:18 Each story within its pages is a reminder of the horrors of slavery and the
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 lengths to which people were willing to go to secure their freedom.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 William Steele's work was not only about aiding those who escaped slavery.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:32 It was about giving them a voice and ensuring that their experiences would not be forgotten.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:38 Too often, history erases the individual lives of those who suffer under oppressive
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 systems. But William Steele refused to let that happen. His records ensured
00:06:42 --> 00:06:46 that the names, stories, and humanity of the people he helped would endure.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:54 Even after the Civil War, Steele remained an active invoker leader in the fight for black rights.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:58 He advocated for education, voting rights, and fair treatment for African Americans
00:06:58 --> 00:07:03 during the Reconstruction period. He believed that the fight for equality did
00:07:03 --> 00:07:08 not end with the abolition of slavery, but was a continuous struggle for justice.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:14 William Steele died in 1902, but his legacy lives on through the stories he
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 preserved and the lives he saved.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 William Steele's life is a powerful
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 reminder that history is shaped not just by
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 the famous figures we all know but by those who
00:07:24 --> 00:07:28 work behind the scenes often in great danger to
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 bring about change he wasn't a general or politician
00:07:31 --> 00:07:36 but his contribution to the fight for freedom was no less important his work
00:07:36 --> 00:07:42 exemplifies the spirit of defiance against injustice and it's because of people
00:07:42 --> 00:07:48 like him that we are able to look back on a history rich with stories of resilience and triumph.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:54 William Steele's story, like so many others, shows us that change is driven
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58 by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:05 Thank you for joining me on this episode of Unfit to Be Bound,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:09 black history unchanged on the nbg podcast
00:08:09 --> 00:08:14 network if you found william still's story as inspiring as i did don't forget
00:08:14 --> 00:08:19 to subscribe share with a friend and leave us a review together we can continue
00:08:19 --> 00:08:24 uncovering the hidden gems of black history until next time i'm freedom x justice
00:08:24 --> 00:08:28 reminding you that our history is unfit to be bound.