Faith, Purpose and Politics

Preserving the Legacy of the Underground Railroad / Featuring Tony Cohen

Tamara Johnson-Shealey Season 1 Episode 3

Anthony (Tony) Cohen, founder of the Menare Foundation, embarked on a two month journey in 1996 to explore a tragically overlooked part of American history—the Underground Railroad—the secret network which thousands of self-liberators  traveled to attain their freedom. 

Tony began his trek in Sandy Spring, Maryland traveling a distance of 1,200 miles by foot, boat and rail arriving in Amherstburg, Ontario on July 7, 1996. Following this success Tony embarked on a second walk in 1998 traveling three months from Mobile, Alabama to Windsor, Ontario; his story appearing in numerous radio, television and print sources. 

In 1998 Tony prepared television icon Oprah Winfrey for her role as Sethe in the motion picture BELOVED. Blindfolded and dropped on a Maryland plantation, Tony transported Oprah back to virtual landscape of slavery, where for two days and nights she was to live as a self-liberator on a simulated Underground Railroad—an experience she later claimed as an inspiration for her change-your-life TV show. As a result of the groundswell of interest following Oprah’s experience, Tony established The Menare Foundation, Inc. in 2000 to create immersive history-based experiences. 

Learn More:  https://www.menare.org/

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