Delivering Uneasy Lessons to Tourists About the Lasting Legacy of Slavery

Stephanie Lampkin freely admits that her work entails dealing with arguably the most shameful aspect of U.S. history — slavery — and its continued impact on the country.

But as a growing number of states have taken steps in recent years to restrict the teaching of African American history, she firmly believes it's more critical than ever as the curator of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in her hometown Cincinnati to explain how the legacy of slavery continues to shape the U.S. even after it was abolished close to 160 years ago.

The museum, which tells the story of the secret network of activists helping slaves escape the South during the early-to-mid 18th century, traditionally sees its largest visitor numbers in February, Black History Month. Roughly 4,300 visitors came to the NURFC in February 2022, and it's poised to see big crowds again for the events it's planned during this Black History Month.

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