African American history in Illinois is complex and compelling. The tragedy of slavery played out over centuries (even when Illinois was ostensibly a “free state”. And notwithstanding passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, there still were episodes of violent racism and/or institutional racist actions.
In the late 1700s, when what is now Illinois became part of the Northwest Territory, slavery was prohibited. Although Illinois was admitted to the union as a free state in 1818, it was not a welcoming place for people of African ancestry because current slave owners were allowed to keep people in bondage.
map of free and slave counties of southern Illinois in 1824 (public domain image) in A History of Southern Illinois by George Washington Smith
From shortly after statehood until the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, Illinois enacted numerous laws, known as the Black Codes, that placed restrictions on the lives of freemen and allowed the continuation of slavery throughout the state. Under these laws, free African Americans could not vote, own or carry firearms, gather in groups of more than three, or sue a white person. They were required to have freedom certificates at all times or were assumed to be escaped slaves. As such, they were subject to arrest, fines, and sale. Too often free Blacks were kidnapped. Later laws required immediate registration from African Americans and the payment of a cash bond when entering a county. By 1829, that bond was $1,000 per person, the equivalent of $24,000 to $28,000 today. These laws also allowed for slave-hunting and the return of escapees to bondage. The legal situation enabled an extreme indenture period allowing slaves to be brought into the state and classified as “indentured servants” without an actual change in their circumstances.
African American history in Illinois is also a story of heroic escapes to freedom through the Underground Railroad. And African American history in Illinois includes the remarkable creation of New Philadelphia, an integrated town on the prairie that was established by a former slave who had bought freedom for himself and his extended family. The story of Brooklyn is similarly compelling. African American history is represented in museums and other cultural venues. And it has been excavated by historical archaeologists. Written into the landscape are countless instances of how enslaved, freedom-seeking, and free-born African Americans and their descendants have shaped communities. Various places of significant African American history in downstate Illinois are discussed in the drop-down menus for this theme of the Mythic Mississippi Project.
African American history in Illinois is also a story of heroic escapes to freedom through the Underground Railroad. And African American history in Illinois includes the remarkable creation of New Philadelphia, an integrated town on the prairie that was established by a former slave who had bought freedom for himself and his extended family. The story of Brooklyn is similarly compelling. African American history is represented in museums and other cultural venues. And it has been excavated by historical archaeologists. Written into the landscape are countless instances of how enslaved, freedom-seeking, and free-born African Americans and their descendants have shaped communities. Various places of significant African American history in downstate Illinois are discussed in the drop-down menus for this theme of the Mythic Mississippi Project.
PEOPLE AND PLACES 
Abolitionist Edward Coles in the Illinois State Capitol: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/abolitionist-edward-coles/
African American Alton: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/af-am-alton/
Alton – Elijah Lovejoy: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/alton-elijah-lovejoy/
Godfrey: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/godfrey/
African American Belleville: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/belleville-afam/
New Philadelphia: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/new-philadelphia/
Otterville: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/otterville/
The Illinois Freedom Project: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/freedom-project/
Central Illinois African American History Museum: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/central-il-african-american-history-museum/
1908 Race Riot Site: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/1908-race-riot-site/
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SITES
The phrase “Underground Railroad” is a metaphor for the very real activity by which conductors helped fleeing slaves arrive at stops where they were sheltered and then helped to move to the next stop as they made their way to freedom. The courage of these slaves in fleeing their bondage was extraordinary. The peril involved in making it just to the first stop leaves us breathless with admiration.
The UGRR was, of necessity, a secret activity. Therefore, there is only rare verifiable physical evidence of it. This situation is discussed in a video embedded in the following article (look for the play button halfway through) https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/uncovering-underground-railroad-s-hidden-past-metro-east#stream/0
UGRR Alton: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/ugrr-alton/
UGRR Brooklyn: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/brooklyn/
UGRR Jacksonville: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/african-american-heritage/jacksonville/
UGRR Rocky Fork: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/rocky-fork/
UGRR New Philadelphia: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/underground-railroad/new-philadelphia-ugrr/
UGRR Springfield: https://mythicmississippi.illinois.edu/underground-railroad/springfield-ugrr
EXTRA SOURCES
SLAVERY
https://africanamericanmidwest.com/history-slavery/slavery-the-midwest-slavery-bans/
THE SITUATION IN ILLINOIS
– “The Illinois Black Codes” by Roger D. Bridges
https://www.lib.niu.edu/1996/iht329602.html
– Bondage in Egypt. Slavery in Southern Illinois by Darrel Dexter, 2011.
– “Slavery in Illinois” by Ethan A. Snively 1901 essay. Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society
https://www.museum.state.il.us/RiverWeb/landings/Ambot/Archives/transactions/1901/IL-slavery.html
EARLY MIGRATION AND FREE BLACK SETTLEMENTS
https://africanamericanmidwest.com/history-migrations/
PATH TO FREEDOM ON ILLINOIS’ UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Published in Enjoy Illinois Magazine
https://www.enjoyillinois.com/travel-illinois/illinois-underground-railroad/
THE FREEDOM CORRIDOR PROJECT OF DR. GERALD MCWORTER AND DR. KATE WILLIAMS Our UIUC colleagues have created an UGRR route running from Hannibal, Missouri, crossing the MIssissippi River to the abolitionist stronghold of Quincy and thence to New Philadelphia-Pittsfield-Barry, and on to Jacksonville and Springfield. See also the “Faith and Freedom Tour” of the Mythic Mississippi Project.
FREE FRANK AND NEW PHILADELPHIA DOCUMENTARY (Prairie Fire ON WILL-TV)
https://youtu.be/WIin2ATrnDI
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE has a very important public education project on the Underground Railroad with a multi-faceted website. Please see: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/network-to-freedom.htm AND https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/what-is-the-underground-railroad.htm
September is International Underground Railroad Month
