Barney Ford was always a risk taker. He risked his life on the Underground Railroad to gain his freedom, surviving the ordeal because of Black people along the way who cared for him and made it possible for him to begin his new life. But his new life was also incredibly risky.
He taught himself to read, even though he could be found out, and later became an entrepreneur running multiple businesses. His ability to manage risk eventually made him millions and brought him great influence and power!
Still, the biggest risk of his life was yet to come.
When he first escaped to freedom, he promised the elderly woman who had cared for him that he would help other Black people. But things were different now – he was affluent and had much more to lose. Would he risk it all to keep his promise and help our people?
Indeed! Ford opened schools and paid educational expenses for our people. He gave Black businesses money to start up and stay afloat. And he did all of this while speaking out against racial prejudice and slavery.
Ford used his success to fund and educate our people at great risk. We must remember that an individualist, “bootstrap” mentality hurts us as a community – when we care for each other, we can truly prosper!