Mary Meachum was not afraid to risk everything for freedom. In the mid-1800s, the free Black woman and abolitionist helped enslaved people slip away from Missouri, guiding them across the Mississippi River to the free state of Illinois.
That legacy was brought to life during the two-part re-enactment last week at the Missouri Botanical Garden, with Part 2 scheduled for this weekend. The event, the 23rd Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration, featured live historical performances that immerses visitors in the harrowing decisions faced by freedom seekers.
For Joyce Bradley, witnessing the reenactment was both sobering and inspiring…