Creativity Unleashed: Jonathan Goldman on Railroad's Role in Freedom

Settle in for a captivating journey on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, led by your host, Rob Lee. For today’s episode, our guest is Jonathan Goldman, the Chief Curator of B&O Railroad Museum, as he joins host Rob Lee on The Truth In This Art. Explore the legacy of the Underground Railroad, illuminated through B&O Railroad's pivotal role while delving into immersive exhibitions, collections, and educational initiatives. Uncover the remarkable journeys of 27 individuals towards freedom along the B&O line, revealing insights into the Black travel experience and ingenious use of railroad terminology as a coded language. With a passion for storytelling and history, Jonathan bridges the past and present, making history engaging for all.

In this session:

• Explore the origins of American railroading and how the B&O Railroad Museum uniquely captures its societal impact.
• Delve into the exhibition "The Underground Railroad" and uncover the pivotal role played by the B&O Railroad, spotlighting narratives of 27 courageous freedom seekers.
• Immerse yourself in an experiential journey through the exhibit, designed to captivate visitors with its power and thoughtfulness, creating an engaging experience.
• Learn about the collaboration between the museum, community partners, and scholars to authentically represent black voices in the Underground Railroad exhibit.
• Discover the digital database's role in enabling visitors to navigate the stories of freedom seekers, gaining insights into the intricate railroad network they utilized on their quests for freedom.

Jonathan discusses his journey into museum work and the latest exhibition he curated, "The Underground Railroad: The Freedom Seekers of the B&O Railroad." The exhibition explores the role of the B&O Railroad in the Underground Railroad and highlights the stories of 27 freedom seekers who used the railroad on their journey to freedom. The exhibit provides an immersive and experiential experience, with interactive elements and a digital database of the freedom seekers' stories. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of elevating black voices and creating a meaningful connection between history and contemporary society.

Mentioned in the episode
B&O Railroad Museum

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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