'Mexico in the 19th century is often regarded as "a place defined by poverty and political instability and violence" — and is rarely given credit for its role in providing a safe haven for runaway slaves. From the book, South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War, by author/historian Alice Baumgartner. [https://www.npr.org/2021/02/28/971325620/a-chapter-in-u-s-history-often-ignored-the-flight-of-runaway-slaves-to-mexico?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social](https://www.npr.org/2021/02/28/971325620/a-chapter-in-u-s-history-often-ignored-the-flight-of-runaway-slaves-to-mexico?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social)

Mainstream media has a history of lashing out at countries and peoples that advocate for black lives. We hate and demonize anyone that tells us how we should treat black people; and anyone who allows black people to feel safe.

The resilience of poor Mexicans is beyond belief. As they say: if someone is hungry (other than themselves), we add water to the soup and invite them. They welcome all the needy that show up in their path. Even when they have nothing.

I talk about this every year during Black History Month on my radio show "Jazz de Mexico" on KRTU in San Antonio TX . I do a feature called "La Tercera Raiz" AfroMexico. Thank you for bringing this to light.

>"As the U.S. Treasury considers putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill to honor her role in the northbound underground railroad, new attention is being paid to the often overlooked southbound route."

"This history is to me most surprising because it shows us the side of Mexico as a place that actually was contributing to global debates about slavery and freedom," Baumgartner says.