Vigilance by Andrew K. Deimer

 

Hello my lovely readers!

Just before the end of the month, I finished this absolute beauty of a book. 

I came across Vigilance: The Life of William Still, Father of the Underground Railroad by Andrew K. Deimer several weeks ago while in a local bookstore. I'd recognized the name because when I first started my Bookstagram account and this blog, The Underground Railroad  by William Still was the first book I reviewed. So it was a welcome surprise to find a full biography on Still that was just published last year.

Let's get into it.

SUMMARY

William Still was born a free Black man in 1821 to former enslaved parents. He was drawn to abolitionism at an early age as his mother escaped to freedom, leaving her two sons but taking her two daughters with her to join her husband in New Jersey.

Still was the youngest of 18 children. After teaching himself how to read and write, he would go on to work at the Anti-Slavery office in Philadelphia, work for the Vigilance Committee and ultimately assist approximately 800 slaves to freedom. Passing through his office, these "fugitives" would get information on any family that had passed through, a place to sleep and eat and assistance on how to move to Canada and begin their new lives.

Deimer's biography takes a look at Still's anti-slavery efforts and his personal life to bring this oft-forgotten man in history to life.

MY THOUGHTS

I love a good biography and this one was amazing. Deimer weaved history and Still's life together in such a way that you never felt that like you were reading a boring history textbook. I hate when I read a biography and the author goes off on a tangent about what was occurring in the world and it lasts for ages and ages until you forget that you're actually reading a biography.

Deimer doesn't do this in this book. He's great at using history to provide context for Still's life. This was a fascinating and in-depth portrayal of Still's life. He made Still come alive, even though he's been dead since 1902. He was completely unbiased in writing about his life as well, which is something I value dearly.

Still led an amazing life and it is one that should be remembered in the discussion of abolitionists and the Underground Railroad.