Black History month is a time for us to celebrate the contributions of African- Americans toward the betterment of our country. From the home of legendary writers to the Underground Railroad, southwest Ohio is rich in African American heritage.
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by Congressman Michael Turner

Black History month is a time for us to celebrate the contributions of African- Americans toward the betterment of our country.  It is also a time to recognize the accomplishments of African-Americans to our nation’s diverse society.  From the home of legendary writers to the Underground Railroad, southwest Ohio is rich in African American heritage.

Dayton is the birthplace of one of our nation’s great literary talents, Paul Laurence Dunbar.  Born to the parents of ex-slaves, Dunbar, the only African-American in his graduating class, was also a high school classmate and friend of aviation pioneer, Orville Wright.  After high school, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator and later a writer for the Dayton community newspapers.  With the help of his high school classmate, he would later publish the Dayton Tattler, an African-American newspaper.  Dunbar would become one of the greatest writers in American history.  

There are many landmarks and attractions honoring African American history across southwest Ohio. The most notable are the pre-Civil War era segments of the Underground Railroad.  A Nineteenth Century informal system of secret routes and safe houses, The Underground Railroad was used by slaves to escape to free states in the north and to Canada.  Many of the “station stops” and “depots” on the Underground Railroad ran through cities in southwest Ohio including Dayton, Springboro and Wilmington.  

Many of the early settlers in Wilmington and Clinton County were members of the Religious Society of Friends.  The Quakers, as they are known, played an important role in the Underground Railroad.  During the mid-1800’s, Historian Wilbur Siebert, author of “The Underground Railroad:  From Slavery to Freedom,” noted there were dozens of abolitionists in Warren and Clinton Counties who helped slaves escape to freedom.   

From 1815 to 1864, Springboro was the site of numerous safe-houses for slaves escaping to freedom. The local historical society has documented 27 Underground Railroad depots in and around the city, with remnants of hiding places and tunnels that still exist in private houses and businesses.  Situated between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, Springboro served as a suitable thoroughfare on the Underground Railroad. 

Margaret E. Peters, author of “Dayton's African American Heritage,” noted that Dayton’s Underground Railroad station during the 1840’s and 1850’s was the Daniel Miller home, located at 3525 Dandridge Street.  The Dayton station was operated by Joe and Nettie Piner.

There are numerous resources available to learn more about the contributions Africans-Americans have made to our country – many can be found on the Internet or at your local library. In addition, The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center located in Wilberforce, offers many exhibits and programs for students and adults to learn more about African-American history here in southwest Ohio and across the country.