--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Underground Railroad, which was the…" description: "\"The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil rights movement, is a part of our history that not a lot of us know about. And it's actu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_civil-rights_the-underground-railroad-which-was-the-f_2720884.jpg" --- # The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated… ![“The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil rights movement, is a part of our history that not a lot of us know about. And it's actually a very empowering side of our history.” quote by Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_civil-rights_the-underground-railroad-which-was-the-f_2720884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_civil-rights_the-underground-railroad-which-was-the-f_2720884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jurnee-smollett-bell-9329_civil-rights_the-underground-railroad-which-was-the-f_2720884.jpg) > “The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil rights movement, is a part of our history that not a lot of us know about. And it's actually a very empowering side of our history.” [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights a largely forgotten, integrated civil‑rights movement that empowered many people. **In simple terms:** A forgotten civil‑rights movement empowered people. Key Takeaway Learn and share hidden histories. Themes history civil rights empowerment Mood reflective inspirational Type historical educational When to use this quote - education - museum exhibits - heritage tours - academic curricula Key Concepts integration grassroots activism Questions to Reflect On - How can we bring forgotten movements to light? - What impact does empowerment have on identity? A Different Perspective May overlook other contributions in the era. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-movement/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Railroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railroad/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-movement/) [Underground railroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underground-railroad/) ## Related quotes > [The Underground Railroad was the first integrated civil rights movement. And it's a great example of when we work together, what we can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/the-underground-railroad-was-the-first-integrated-civil-rights/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Oftentimes, a history book in school will talk about the Underground Railroad as if it's one sentence. But thousands of people decided to run,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/oftentimes-a-history-book-in-school-will-talk-about-the-underground/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [The Underground Railroad was a spy network for the North and that story has never been told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/the-underground-railroad-was-a-spy-network-for-the-north-and-that/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Despite strong performances, Barry Jenkin's 'The Underground Railroad' is plodding and rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/despite-strong-performances-barry-jenkin-s-the-underground-railroad/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [A lot of people, when they first hear about the Underground Railroad, think it really is a subway or a locomotive. When they find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/a-lot-of-people-when-they-first-hear-about-the-underground-railroad/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad became a spy network, so we could still have fresh stories for these characters years into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/during-the-civil-war-the-underground-railroad-became-a-spy-network-so/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Without question, 'The Underground Railroad' is beautifully filmed, and for the most part well acted. The show also manages to do something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/without-question-the-underground-railroad-is-beautifully-filmed-and/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [The story of the Underground Railroad is the story of American heroes, and who doesn't want to hear a story about American heroes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/the-story-of-the-underground-railroad-is-the-story-of-american-heroes/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Stories about enslaved Africans can be depressing, exciting, educational and, yes, even entertaining depending on your taste. However, they should never be boring, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/stories-about-enslaved-africans-can-be-depressing-exciting/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [I was like, 'Oh, let's do a show about the Underground Railroad.' I never come up with great titles, and I thought, 'Underground' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/i-was-like-oh-let-s-do-a-show-about-the-underground-railroad-i-never/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [When I was reading 'The Underground Railroad,' I had to actually hold my hand over the right-hand page so I wouldn't see, by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-blum/when-i-was-reading-the-underground-railroad-i-had-to-actually-hold-my/) [Jenna Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-blum/) > [In America, when you hear about the Underground Railroad, it's so evocative. You think it's a literal subway for a few minutes before your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/in-america-when-you-hear-about-the-underground-railroad-it-s-so/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-tubman/i-was-the-most-famous-conductor-on-the-underground-railroad/) [Harriet Tubman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-tubman/) > [Any movement in history which attempts to perpetuate itself, becomes reactionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josip-broz-tito/any-movement-in-history-which-attempts-to-perpetuate-itself-becomes/) [Josip Broz Tito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josip-broz-tito/) > [The writer may very well serve a movement of history as its mouthpiece, but he cannot of course create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-writer-may-very-well-serve-a-movement-of-history-as-its/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More by Jurnee Smollett-Bell > [Little Richard played my uncle on 'Full House.' He's fabulous. I remember him being incredibly kind to me. I just remember him being super,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/little-richard-played-my-uncle-on-full-house-he-s-fabulous-i-remember/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [When I was 12 years old, I got involved with an organization called Artists for a New South Africa. One of its missions is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-got-involved-with-an-organization-called/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I started shooting 'The Defenders' two days after I wrapped' Friday Night Lights.' I was doing research for 'The Defenders' throughout - interviewing lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-started-shooting-the-defenders-two-days-after-i-wrapped-friday/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [People look at you, and they think they know you. They think they can place you in a certain category by what they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/people-look-at-you-and-they-think-they-know-you-they-think-they-can/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [Far too often, I read a script where the girls are the girlfriend or the set dressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/far-too-often-i-read-a-script-where-the-girls-are-the-girlfriend-or/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [It's not very exciting to go to work to just have your character's identity being defined by her relationship with her male counterparts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/it-s-not-very-exciting-to-go-to-work-to-just-have-your-character-s/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [If I have a jump rope and a resistance band, I can work out anywhere. Even without a jump rope. If you do 200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/if-i-have-a-jump-rope-and-a-resistance-band-i-can-work-out-anywhere/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I have respect for therapists in general, because they hear so many stories. It's a lot to hold and take in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-have-respect-for-therapists-in-general-because-they-hear-so-many/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [Marriage is a work in progress, but it's beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/marriage-is-a-work-in-progress-but-it-s-beautiful/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I have a complex heritage: my mom is African American, and my dad is Jewish. Both were activists, and they met during the movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-have-a-complex-heritage-my-mom-is-african-american-and-my-dad-is/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I would be ignorant to say colorism doesn't exist; it's gross and disgusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-would-be-ignorant-to-say-colorism-doesn-t-exist-it-s-gross-and/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I always said, 'Whenever I get pregnant, I'm going to embrace all of the body changes that happen.' My focus has not been on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-always-said-whenever-i-get-pregnant-i-m-going-to-embrace-all-of-the/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [With film, there's a consistency to it, but what I like about the TV shows that I've been fortunate to do, like 'Friday Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/with-film-there-s-a-consistency-to-it-but-what-i-like-about-the-tv/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I'm a research queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-m-a-research-queen/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [I'm very grateful to have been able to work with so many talented filmmakers and actors during my career. I've learned so much from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/i-m-very-grateful-to-have-been-able-to-work-with-so-many-talented/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) [Explore all 73 Jurnee Smollett-Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil rights movement, is a part of our history that not a lot of us know about. 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