On Saturday, March 18th at 1 PM, Wynton Butler, Director of Social Services for the Reading School District, will present a program about the Underground Railroad at the Wyomissing Public Library. The program is free and open to the public; the library is located at 9 Reading Boulevard in Wyomissing. Mr. Butler has had an interest in the history of the Underground Railroad for many years, an interest he continued to develop as a Social Studies teacher.
The Underground Railroad, defined by the National Park Service as “the resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, through the end of the Civil War—refers to the efforts of enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom by escaping bondage.” Pennsylvania was a critical part of the Railroad, and Berks County had a number of places that were considered “safe” houses for freedom seekers. Mr. Butler will explore the history of the Underground Railroad, how it worked, and where the locations of the “stops” were in Berks.
In addition, singer Runnette Gabriel will offer a portrayal of Harriet Tubman, the conductor of the Underground Railroad who, after she escaped from enslavement, brought her family and at least 70 other freedom seekers to safety.
This program is presented by the library in partnership with Berks InterCultural Alliance (BICA). Registration is requested and may be done by emailing [email protected], or by calling the library at 610-374-2385, or in person at the circulation desk in the library.
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