Secrets in the Sky

Produced by the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Detailed Description:

An African storyteller, or griot, introduces a story about Josh and his family. They are slaves living in Mississippi shortly before the Civil War. When the plantation owner sells Josh’s wife Anna and his son Melik, the family decides to escape from slavery.

In preparation for their escape, Anna and Melik practice singing code songs, which will help them remember directions, and recognize signals as they make their escape.

After his family is sent to a plantation in Kentucky, Josh hears the escape signal from his friend Big George. They get some instructions from Harriet Tubman, and begin their journey along the Tombigbee River. Slave catchers become aware of their escape and pursue them along the river. Josh and Big George are separated, so Josh continues on his own to a rendezvous with Anna and Melik near the plantation in Kentucky.

Following the North Star and signals along the way, Josh’s family works toward the Ohio River. There they discover a young woman and her infant. The woman was also trying to escape, but was separated from her traveling companions. Together they await a boat to cross the river, as slave hunters draw near.

A riverboat assists them across the river, and the captain guides Josh and his family to contact a Quaker farmer, who is an agent on the Underground Railroad. The family is taken by wagon to a cellar where they can briefly rest. The Quaker provides instructions that assist the family in reaching West Michigan, where their story comes to conclusion.

After the end of the recorded presentation, the program may be continued with a brief review of how to locate the Drinking Gourd (Big Dipper), and how its position changes with the seasons.