In Ep. 84 we talk with historian Anthony Cohen about the Underground Railroad and its legendary conductor Harriet Tubman as seen in the 2019 film HARRIET. Anthony Cohen personally retraced the journey of the Underground Railroad and self-emancipation by foot, rail, and boat from Maryland to Canada in 1996. His walk got the attention of Oprah Winfrey who asked him to prepare her for her role in the 1998 film BELOVED based on the Toni Morrison novel.

The 2019 film HARRIET traces the escape from slavery to freedom of Minty Ross, and her transformation into the iconic American freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. Haunted by memories of those she left behind, Harriet Tubman ( Cynthia Erivo) ventures back into dangerous territory on a mission to lead others to freedom. With allies like abolitionist William Still (Leslie Odom, Jr.) and the entrepreneurial Marie Buchanon (Janelle Monae), Harriet Tubman risks capture and death to guide hundreds to safety as one of the most prominent conductors of the Underground Railroad.

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TIMESTAMPS

0:02 - Podcast Open

1:49 - History of the Underground Railroad

3:59 - Overview HARRIET film

5:00 - Anthony Cohen's 1996 Underground Railroad Journey

16:25 - Underground Railroad: Networks, Risks, and Dangers

27:56 - Preparation for Historical Immersive Experiences

32:26 - Preparing Oprah Winfrey for BELOVED film

42:50 - The Menare Foundation Mission and Activities

46:22 - Five Steps for Understanding Freedom Seekers46:49 Anthony Cohen's 2026 Walk to Canada

1:02:25 - Engaging with History and Call to Action

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Revolution to Rights: America at 250 " series. The historical dramas featured in "Revolution to Rights" tell stories of battles fought in the quest for freedom, and the people whose collective actions and courage inspire us to move beyond remembrance, and to take actions today to ensure freedom and justice for all.

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In Episode 83, The Boston Sisters talk about the 2012 film LINCOLN (directed by Steven Spielberg) with The Honorable Sharon Pratt, former Mayor of Washington, DC , and Founding Director of the Institute of Politics Policy and History on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia .

The conversation with Mayor Pratt focuses on Abraham Lincoln's leadership, the moral complexities of the Civil War, the significance of Lincoln's presidency in transforming Washington, DC, and the broader implications of the 13th Amendment and the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in America.

Episode 83 launches REVOLUTION TO RIGHTS: AMERICA AT 250, a 10-episode podcast series from Historical Drama with The Boston Sisters® that takes you on a journey through America’s 250-year history of advancing freedom and justice since the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

TIMESTAMPS

0:15 - Introduction to REVOLUTION TO RIGHTS: AMERICA AT 250 podcast series

2:07 - Film overviews: LINCOLN, HARRIET, and GLORY

2:59 - Lincoln and the 13th Amendment

7:33 - Institute of Politics, Policy and History elevating stories of Washington DC

11:51 - Discussion of Lincoln in Historical Context: Civil War, Abolition, 13th Amendment

17:37 - Lincoln's Moral Center and Leadership

23:27 - Attributes and Challenges of Leadership

29:00 - Impact of Civil War and Reconstruction on the Nation's Capital

36:07 - Lincoln's Legacy

42:09 - Institute of Politics Policy and History Programs

47:43 - Personal reflection: stories worthy of the screen

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In episode 82, The Boston Sisters discuss the Hallmark Channel’s adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility featuring a multiracial cast. Vanessa Riley, the historical and cultural consulting producer, shares her journey into Austen's works and her role in ensuring historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity. Riley also discusses her novels Queen of Exilesand Island Queen, which explore the lives of Marie-Louise Christophe, Haiti's only queen, and Dorothy “Dolly” Kirwan Thomas, a formerly enslaved woman who became a wealthy entrepreneur. Riley emphasizes the importance of representing diverse historical figures and the potential adaptation of her novels into films.

Award-winning author Vanessa Riley, honored as the 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author of the Year, spotlights hidden narratives of Black women and women of color in novels. Her works emphasize strong sisterhoods, diverse communities, and power across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres.

TIMESTAMPS

0:03 - Podcast description

1:30 - Overview of Sense and Sensibility

2:42 - Introduction to Vanessa Riley, historical and cultural producer and historical fiction author

4:05 - Vanessa's Jane Austen origin story

7:25 - Jane Austen's wit

9:19 - Historical authenticity and cultural sensitivity in Hallmark Channel’s SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

17:39 - Challenges and achievements in adapting “Sense and Sensibility”

20:35 - Generic Break

21:03 - Discovering Dorothy “Dolly’ Kirwan Thomas, “Island Queen”

28:35 - Vanessa's Research and discoveries for “Queen of Exiles” (Marie-Louise Christophe)

36:15 - Future adaptations and Vanessa Riley's vision

Note: Ep. 82 has been updated to correct a technical error in the introduction.

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