In Summer 2016, my host, after I had bicycled several miles that day on my Underground Railroad Bicycle Tour, convinced me to go to an outdoor concert celebrating W. C. Handy and it was great! Such a good time with great music and everyone having a good time. I was exhausted but it it was *so* worth it.

I never got to go to the W.C. Handy events in Northwest Alabama, so it was a pleasure.

https://mastodon.social/@coyotebroad/113997367579762202

#WCHandy #Music #m_music #UGRR #BicycleTour #BlackHistoryMonth #Blues

@BlackAzizAnansi

In 1893, the Black janitor at the Chicago Board of Trade, Joseph H. Hudlun, stopped an active shooter there.

During the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Joseph ran to the BoT and rescued important papers from the flames. His wife Anna Elizabeth became known as a Fire Angel for her help to those affected.

Joseph and Anna Elizabeth were active in Chicago's Underground Railroad as part of the Quinn Chapel congregation.

#BlackHistory #UGRR

In December 1853, #UGRR leaders #JohnJones and #JamesDBonner began advertising their new #Chicago business venture, the General Intelligence Office

Located on Dearborn Street, the GIO was an employment agency, realty office, money lender and collection agency

It most likely helped new escapees from enslavement find jobs in the City or request help from Chicago's #UndergroundRailroad

In 1854, #FrederickDouglass reprinted the ads in his own newspaper

Chicago Tribune, 12/9/1853 p.2 #histodons

On this day in 1848, a convention was held in #Chicago to organize petitions to the Illinois legislature to repeal the State's Black Laws

Earlier, letters had been sent to Black citizens across the State by Black leaders of Chicago's #UndergroundRailroad: #JohnJones #HenryBradford #WilliamJohnson #RevAbrahamTHall and #HenryOWagoner

Like many other efforts of its kind, this appeal made no headway, and the Black Laws remained in force until early 1865
#histodons #UGRR #OTD #Chicagohistory