More than a century and a half later, the story of the Underground Railroad still is largely a secret to many North Carolinians. James Wilson, producer and general manager of the theater, said the tale has been largely untold because many people, both black and white, find revisiting the era of slavery uncomfortable. It doesn't make it go away.
History is history.
We shouldn't be afraid of it. We shouldn't be afraid to learn from it. Others illegally assisted escaping slaves through the Underground Railroad, a complex system of nighttime routes, daylight hiding places and guides who helped spirit the escapees to safety. Levi Coffin, the Underground Railroad's leader, was a Quaker who lived in Alamance County. Wilson said the region's association with the railroad inspired him to bring a drama about it to the stage, an effort that began 20 years ago when he and his brother founded the theater.