Exodusters: The First Kansas Refugees

An “Exoduster” is name given to a group of African-Americans who traveled from the South, mostly to the West. Slavery had just came to an end because of the Civil War. Many slaves wanted to leave because they had bad memories in the South, and their former owners were there.

While they also knew that the South was free land now, but many were still technically slaves due to what was known as “sharecropping.” This was when former slaveowners would say that the former slaves could still work on the same land but they will be “paid” by being provided you a bed, food, water, and shelter. Some of them got along with their masters so they DID stay. Others chose to leave because of segregation, and violent groups like KKK.

Most of them chose to go west because Kansas has ALWAYS been Anti-Slavery. Kansas had voted to become a free state, and had fought with the Union army. If you don’t know who Benjamin “Pap” Singleton is,..... well, I am going to tell you. He was given the name “Father of the Exodus”. He was given that name because he saved many, many, MANY exodusters. He took them all to the west because he KNEW that they would be able to start over and own land so they will be able have family, They were slaves and they know how to do all the farm work. So what do you think they're best at? Farming!

The Exodusters traveled a long time with their families. What allowed the former slaves to obtain their new lands? The Homestead Act. They had to stay there for 5 years, and they had to make improvements (build a house, plant crops, etc). A local example of an Exoduster community here was Dunlap, KS.

Sources:

"The Exodusters." PBS. PBS. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

"Exodusters." - Kansapedia. KSHS. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

"Exodusters of Kansas." Exodusters of Kansas. Legends of Kansas. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

"The Exodusters." : Black History for Kids ***. American Historama. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.