By revealing stories of freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC) challenges and inspires guests to take courageous steps of freedom today. The NURFC is a museum of conscience, an education center, a convener of dialogue, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom around the globe.
Its downtown Cincinnati location is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the great natural barrier that separated the slave states of the South from the free states of the North. Since opening in 2004, the NURFC has filled a substantial void in the nation’s cultural heritage. Rooted in the stories of the Underground Railroad, the museum illuminates the true meaning of inclusive freedom by presenting permanent and special exhibits that inspire, public programming that provokes dialogue and action, and educational resources that equip modern abolitionists.
“We want this institution to be a safe space for people to come and learn about very complicated history, as we cover a wide variety of topics from historical slavery to modern-day enslavement. As people continue to learn and engage with this history, we encourage them to get involved and do something, whether that’s becoming a modern-day abolitionist or fighting against various current social issues that still impact the country today. We pride ourselves on teaching an idea of inclusive freedom — the idea that freedom should be all-encompassing and for everybody,” says Katie Bramell, the Director of Museum Experiences at NURFC.
The 19th Amendment states “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridge by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” This year, the museum is hosting a year of programming commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
Passed by Congress in August of 1920, the 19th Amendment ended nearly 100 years of protest by guaranteeing women the right to vote. However, the 19th Amendment did not grant all women the right to vote. Women of color, such as African American and Native American women, were often times excluded from the narrative and protections of the 19th amendment. In the Jim Crow South, both African American women and men were prevented from voting due to the passage of racist laws that unjustly targeted people of color. In addition, other women of color, such as Native American and Asian American women, were also prevented from voting as they were denied the right to citizenship. These injustices were not addressed until 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
In 2020, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will celebrate and explore the complicated history of women’s suffrage by inviting the public to participate in a number of programs and events discussing the legacy of the 19th Amendment. To learn more, please visit freedomcenter.org.
“Here at NURFC, we are focusing on the legacy of the 19th amendment and what suffrage means for voting rights today. The definition of suffrage is “the right to vote,” yet most of us only think about it in the context of women’s suffrage. This year, we want to explore the history of the 19th amendment and what it realistically did for American women while also bringing the conversation of suffrage 2020 with the back-drop of an election year,” Bramell says.
In March 2020, NURFC opened its first activation station centered on women’s suffrage. The station encourages visitors to respond to the question, “Who is your SHEro and why does HERstory matter?” On the backdrop of the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, NURFC strives to know what women have impacted visitors lives and why. Visitors are also encouraged to share their stories on social media using the hashtag #women100 and #MyNURFC. The goal is to both educate the public on the
history associated with the 19th amendment but also to encourage and inspire others to reflect on the important women in their lives.
“We really wanted a space for visitors to feel like they could contribute to the larger conversation of women’s suffrage. It’s important for us to allow people to share their stories and histories so we can continue to honor impactful women throughout the year, not just in the month of March.”
The women’s suffrage activation station will be open through June 2020 and will also be available to engage with via social media platforms.
In response to the ever-growing at home care needs of families and educators presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic, NURFC will release a number of digital activities for students and families in the Spring of 2020. These offerings will be include items such as lesson plans, activity workbooks, crossword puzzles, word searches and more. Access online learning resource at https://freedomcenter.org/content/online-learning-resources.
NURFC will also be focusing on engagement through various social platforms to give visitors an outlet in these unprecedented times. We want to remind visitors that NURFC is here to serve the community and will continue to do so digitally throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Bramell.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located at 50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202. For more information on upcoming programs and events, call 513.333.7739 or visit www.freedomcenter.org.