The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad

Summary

The drinking gourd is a symbol of the Underground Railroad, which slaves use to guide them to freedom. The drinking gourd could also be known as the Big Dipper.

In this story, the young child Tommy Fuller, discovers a family of runaway slaves living in his family’s barn. When his father realizes that Tommy discovered the secret, Tommy is taken along on the journey of saving the slaves. He learns about the Underground Railroad, that his father conducted and about the ‘drinking gourd’. He also learns about the meaning of ‘slave’. He learns that there is a price labeled on these people and sometimes there families are even separated. Tommy also does his share to see that the slaves are not discovered.