It recounted a night in history on which a Quaker family in Germantown protected a group of escaped slaves from capture by federal marshals. We become bigger than ourselves. Three choirs came together and watched Alston introduce the history of how the Quakers became a part of the abolition movement. The debate lasted for more than years in the Quaker church, but the religious organization became the first to take a formal stand against slavery.
Violin music softly played throughout the introduction. As the audience quickly learned how the Fugitive Slave Act changed everything — that slaves could be returned to their masters even after escaping — the music became louder and more dramatic. The children wore worried expressions. The audience heard the banging on the door from outside the Johnson House; children reenacted federal marshals coming in for the slaves. Two children portrayed the Johnsons, who looked to scripture to back their conviction to lie to the officials.
The slaves hid on the roof while the Johnsons told the marshals that no one is there. The children finished with hymn-like lyrics about fighting evil, and the good being raised up. The audience was silent; the idea of how this act of freedom happened right in Germantown was palpable. Donna Smith, principal of Wister School in Germantown, said she was deeply moved by the performance. And this happened on our own soil. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you.
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Members of Pennsylvania skating club, Delaware coach among Washington, D. Reportedly, some of the victims skated with clubs in Philadelphia and Aston and at the University of Delaware. A Delaware coach is also among the victims. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Skip to content Philadelphia. Share this Facebook Twitter Email. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information.
