Discussing global events with young people, can sometimes seem like a daunting task. How do you explain the situation in Iraq, the Holocaust or even the slave trade?
Underground to Canada is a historical novel for young people and was written by Barbara Smucker. Based partially on a true story, the novel is set in the United States and Canada in the years leading up to the American Civil War.
The book depicts the lives of slaves in the American South and the people who helped them to escape to Canada, through the Underground Railroad, which was organized by abolitionists and helped slaves achieve their freedom.
The transatlantic slave trade was the greatest forced migration in history. The story of mass enslavement is one of cruelty, geography, racism, resilience and survival against all odds. It is also a testament to the unquenchable nature of the human spirit.
People in the North West of England, may be familiar with the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, which was opened in 1994. It is located on Liverpool's Albert Dock and is only yards from where slave trading ships were repaired and fitted out.
Books like Underground to Canada and the places like the International Slavery Museum explore the international importance of slavery, both in a historic and contemporary context. They also provide young people with the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of slavery and its legacy in today's world.
Hussein Al-alak is the editor of Iraq Solidarity News (Al-Thawra)
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