NIAGARA FALLS: Remembering the lessons of the freedom trail

Local News

September 18, 2009

Lessons hidden inside games and entertainment at Underground Railroad event Saturday

<table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Michele Deluca</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:michele.deluca@niagara-gazette.com">michele.deluca@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table> The Niagara Gazette Fri Sep 18, 2009, 12:33 AM EDT

Freedom Festival organizer David Blackburn really just wants to remind people that when faced with injustice, humans often behave in heroic, courageous ways.

That’s one of the main teaching points of the Freedom Festival being held Saturday on the grounds of the Niagara Falls Public Library.

“The Underground Railroad is one of the greatest humanitarian efforts known to the world,” said Blackburn, who has run the festival since it began 10 years ago. “It was designed to help people have a higher quality of life and it involved people of all backgrounds helping other people.”

The festival, which runs from noon to 6 p.m., rain or shine, will include music, food and activities for the entire family, as well as re-enactors, authors, and 80-year-old Joan Southgate, who has walked the entire route of the Underground Railroad.

Blackburn, who is director of Multicultural and International Student Affairs at Niagara University, said the festival receives support from both the university and the Main Street Small Business Association as well as state Assemblyman Francine DelMonte and Sen. Antoine Thompson.

“This is a little different from some of our other festivals,” said Leslie Tarczynski, spokesperson for the Main Street association. “It’s not just music and entertainment, it’s more educational.”

“David does a great job of educating the children,” she added. “They think they’re having fun but it’s a really great lesson in our heritage here.”

There will be an arts and crafts tent, drum lessons, a Karaoke tent and games including “Hoops for History” basketball where participants can win school supplies.

Local actors from Almadae Theater will perform; musicians will include N’Dia, a world beat African drums and dance team.

Representatives from the new Hot Stuff Southern Cafe on Main Street will be offering the last of the season’s fried green tomatoes and other food vendors are expected as well.

Blackburn also hopes to re-enact the historic path that legendary Underground Railroad figure Harriet Tubman took when she led slaves to freedom. He plans a ceremonial walk from the library to the Whirlpool Bridge to symbolize Tubman’s crossings.

There will also be a special announcement at noon about the North Star Project. The project is planned to include the restoration of the Civil War-era Custom House at 2245 Whirlpool St., an Underground Railroad Interpretive Center and a new train station.

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: The Freedom Festival

• WHEN: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday

• WHERE: On the grounds of the Niagara Falls Public Library, 1452 Main St.

• MORE INFO: Contact 286-8405.