--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During the Civil War, the Underground…" description: "\"During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad became a spy network, so we could still have fresh stories for these characters years into the future, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/misha-green-10691_civil-war_during-the-civil-war-the-underground-rai_1322512.jpg" --- # During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad became a… ![“During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad became a spy network, so we could still have fresh stories for these characters years into the future, with desperate people still doing desperate things.” quote by Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/misha-green-10691_civil-war_during-the-civil-war-the-underground-rai_1322512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/misha-green-10691_civil-war_during-the-civil-war-the-underground-rai_1322512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/misha-green-10691_civil-war_during-the-civil-war-the-underground-rai_1322512.jpg) > “During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad became a spy network, so we could still have fresh stories for these characters years into the future, with desperate people still doing desperate things.” [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Underground Railroad functioned as covert intelligence, providing ongoing narrative material for future storytelling about desperate people. **In simple terms:** It was a secret spy network during the Civil War. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden histories in modern narratives. Themes history resistance storytelling humanity desperation Mood reflective somber inspirational Type historical narrative educational When to use this quote - historical fiction - documentary research - education - cultural preservation Key Concepts covert operations networking survival legacy Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor unseen heroes? - What lessons do secret networks teach today? A Different Perspective Limited documentation may obscure full scope of activities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Desperate People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-people/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Railroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railroad/) [Underground railroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underground-railroad/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil rights movement, is a part of our history that not a lot of us know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/the-underground-railroad-which-was-the-first-integrated-civil-rights/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The U.S. obviously has all the evidence they need to prosecute bankers. They just need to search their own spy database and then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/the-u-s-obviously-has-all-the-evidence-they-need-to-prosecute-bankers/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [The story of the Underground Railroad is a thriller. These are people who are basically in a heist movie, and it's the most precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/the-story-of-the-underground-railroad-is-a-thriller-these-are-people/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) ## More by Misha Green > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Horror is my favorite genre, but it works best for me when it's a metaphor on top of something we can all relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/horror-is-my-favorite-genre-but-it-works-best-for-me-when-it-s-a/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Everybody wants to watch the underdog win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/everybody-wants-to-watch-the-underdog-win/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [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/) > [For me, I feel like horror space has always been a space of the other, even when it's not people of color or black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/for-me-i-feel-like-horror-space-has-always-been-a-space-of-the-other/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [When I first read 'Lovecraft Country' I knew it had the potential to be unlike anything else on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/when-i-first-read-lovecraft-country-i-knew-it-had-the-potential-to-be/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [You know, being an 'other' in this world, you're walking around in a horror movie at all times, you're always on edge and wondering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/you-know-being-an-other-in-this-world-you-re-walking-around-in-a/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [Oppression is not limited to people of color, but if you feel guilty that's something you should confront.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/oppression-is-not-limited-to-people-of-color-but-if-you-feel-guilty/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > ['Get Out' definitely brought it to the mainstream, but you can look back at the original 'Night of the Living Dead' and that's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/get-out-definitely-brought-it-to-the-mainstream-but-you-can-look-back/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [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/) > [If your art is speaking to the moment, that's all you can hope for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/if-your-art-is-speaking-to-the-moment-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [If the actors aren't reacting the way people would react, that's where you step into disbelief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/if-the-actors-aren-t-reacting-the-way-people-would-react-that-s-where/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [It's easy to let ourselves off the hook and say, 'Oh, I would never own slaves.' Because this is in the DNA of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/it-s-easy-to-let-ourselves-off-the-hook-and-say-oh-i-would-never-own/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [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/) > [I think, because you look around in Hollywood, and there are no 'me's. There's nobody that's as young as me, as black as me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/i-think-because-you-look-around-in-hollywood-and-there-are-no-me-s/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) [Explore all 64 Misha Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) ## More Civil war quotes > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) Homer Bone > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“ “In the South, football is confused with religion, chivalry, the Civil War, and women.” -Diane Roberts, The Quotable South ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/in-the-south-football-is-confused-with-religion-chivalry-the-civil/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. 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