People of Conscience?

Admittedly, my knowledge of African-American history had not increased much since the late 60s when my high school history teacher, Mr. Klein gave a mini-lecture for this new thing called Black History Day. I remember his words felt scripted, his tone overblown and condescending:  And so, boys and girls, George, Washington, Carver… invented peanut butter!  Isn't that great?  He kept smiling at me, the only black kid in the class (we weren't colored anymore), and I remember slouching way down in my seat and giving him my best sullen glare.

So, as I continue researching my family's history, I'm learning a lot about African-American history in general.  I've read about entire communities of freed men and women in upstate NY in the 1800s, I learned that the Underground RR was very extensive, with safe havens existing in places like Xenia,Ohio; Unadilla NY, Redwing, Minnesota and in the western states. And I've read about the abolitionist movement which was a world-wide effort that began long before the Civil War. There was the World Anti-Slavery Society which held its convention in London in1840 with delegates from the American Anti-Slavery Society in attendance, there were Quakers and Suffragettes working to end slavery and there were regular  people who, though not in any way political or radical, were people of conscience, including all the average folks who provided safe havens for black people heading toward freedom.  

All this to say, there were many white people, probably good church-goin' folks, who took risks and helped resettle new arrivals from the south, helped them get jobs, schooling and start families.  People who treated fellow human beings with dignity, respect and in some obvious cases, great affection. 

So when I look at those vintage European American faces in my collection, especially those with handwritten messages on the back, I wonder if I'm seeing the face of people of conscience.