History of North America

How did the black slaves find out about underground railroad?

Word of mouth and secret codes were two main ways that enslaved people learned about the Underground Railroad.

Many enslaved people who escaped gained knowledge of the Underground Railroad from relatives and friends who had already been freed. Additionally, African American communities created secret codes to communicate about freedom. For instance, someone asking about the best train route may have actually been inquiring about the Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad did not have printed literature or formal advertisements, so discreet strategies were necessary for spreading information.