John Shackelford and fellow cyclists/Photo courtesy of Bicycling
Five Black and Latino cyclists rode their bikes from Alabama to Washington, D.C. to commemorate the trek the ancestors made on the Underground Railroad, Bicycling reported. John Shackelford, an auto fabricator from Brooklyn, coordinated the 1,100-mile ride to inspire his community and honor runaway slaves who took the route to freedom.
Shackelford said his idea was sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests that overtook 2020.
“That was my big message,” Shackelford said, “to inspire more people like me to do what I love.”
Shackelford researched the railroad but found there was no absolute route during the time. But, he trusted the spirit of his ancestors to plot his course.
“In the spirit of my ancestors, let me make my own way,” he said.
From there, the concept of a documentary focused on the Underground Railroad bike journey. Crowdfunding, merchandise sales, and other sponsorships raised $100,000 for making the concept come to life.
John Shackelford was joined by friends Edwardo Garabito, Alexander Olbrich, Rashad Mahoney and Richard Carson. The sojourners departed Mobile, Alabama, on September 29. A film crew followed the cyclists in a van along the route.
The Underground Railroad helped numerous enslaved people escape. Although numbers vary, they range from 40,000 to 100,000. However, even 40,000 was less than one percent of the total number of enslaved people at the time.
One of the most historical figures associated with the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman.
Tubman made at least 13 treks using the railroad to help free the enslaved ancestors and was known as the Moses for Black people at the time and apart from her missions with the Underground Railroad. She was also an army nurse and considered the first African-American woman in the military.
The group of cyclists finally rode into Washington, D.C., in October and felt a sense of catharsis.
“I didn’t realize that there were pictures and things posted on the fence right there, too, of loved ones, stories. After experiencing everything I experienced in the South, going from that to D.C…. I don’t know. It just hit harder than it hit before,” said Mahoney.
There are many ways to honor the ancestors who escaped using the Underground Railroad. Shackelford used his skill and creativity to create a new one.