National Afro-American Museum

A moment with Edith Washington Johnson, granddaughter of Booker T. Washington.

A: I think that as I was driving around as a director of admissions at Central State University, I saw too many young African-American students who knew so little about their heritage, where they came from. And I feel that in studying the Underground Railroad, they can get a better sense of the beginning, of the early years of their people in this country. And I think it’s very important for their own self-confidence to know their history, and I think the Underground Railroad trip is a very good thing to study some of black history.

I think for other students or other people in this country -- it’s well to know all people’s culture that are in America because -- we hear about the salad bowl, about all these nationalities, and I think the more we know about people’s history, their heritage, the more tolerant we are, and the better the salad will mix.

Address technical questions on the Footsteps to Freedom website to webmaster@rims.k12.ca.us