FUBU and the Underground Railroad Field Trip

FUBU ( For Us, By Us) is a club that we have here at Kenmore West High School. The mission of FUBU is to identify, discuss, and offer solutions for systemic blind spots within our school community. To me, FUBU is an important club to have at Kenmore West because it's a club where everyone has a say and everyone can feel welcome, all while we're getting things done to make the school better. We have done a bunch of things that you might have heard of over the last two years: we have been a part of the Racial Day of Healing which was broadcast on Buffalo television last May. We met the cast of The Color Purple, created a Black History Month Week, and made various announcements highlighting people of color throughout history. 

What we are most known for is our annual trip to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. This has been the second time FUBU has been to the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and each time I am surprised at how amazing it really is. 

Let me take you along with me through the experience. As soon as you walk into the museum you're greeted by your tour guide who introduces themselves. Throughout the outing, they get students participating and laughing. Although it's a museum, don't get confused, it's also a fully functioning train station. Your first stop is in the front of the museum where there are several maps along the front and pictures of people. You learn about what the Underground Railroad was and the people who are important to this tour: enslaved people who traveled to escape slavery. An important thing to know is the language used in the museum: you don’t call enslaved people slaves.  You say either enslaved people or freedom seekers because a slave is not something that they wanted to be nor were proud of. It was forced upon Black people. Our tour guide Josiah explained that the URHC tries to spotlight lesser-known Black Americans. Students were able to learn many new stories and perspectives beyond what is just learned in most class curriculums. 

After everything is introduced you are led into the museum. There are quotes and artwork all around. You follow the journey of freedom seekers and how the Cataract House influenced and changed the course of many individuals. The Cataract House was one of the largest hotels in Niagara Falls; it was very popular for both southern slave-holding tourists and for African American waiters. It helped enslaved people escape from slavery. The staff of African American waiters under head waiter John Morrison helped many enslaved people escape to freedom. 

After watching a short video you are led to another series of maps that show the migration of slaves after certain laws that were passed during that time and where enslaved people settled. Following this you are led into a room where you see the actual pitcher and plates that were used in the Cataract House before it burned down. The tour guide explained a lot of historical context including the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. “Free” Black people living in the North were no longer free and many were forced to flee to Canada. You are then led across a “bridge” that duplicates the bridge that many enslaved people crossed into Canada to escape slavery. You can almost feel the relief and hope after crossing the border. 

Finally, you follow the tour guide to the last room where you learn about the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and its mission. On the way out you see pictures of Black inspirators who have fought for equality and justice from during slavery to now. Although the museum is not very large, it has a huge impact on your thinking process when it comes to the Underground Railroad. In my opinion, it is important to at least visit the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center at once in your life because it opens your eyes and does an amazing job of capturing the stories of enslaved people, their journey, and the part that Buffalo played in the process.