Texas‑based poet, historian and author Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz is bringing her latest work, The Ballad of the Fugitive William Parker, to a local audience. The event, curated by the Thurber House and held at the CCAD Canzani Center on Sunday, Sept. 6, will feature a panel that includes novelist Ernest Cline, poet Hanif Abdurraqib and writer Scott Woods.
From family roots to a hidden chapter of history
After her mother’s death in 2015, Aptowicz began tracing her family tree. While she expected only Irish ancestors, she uncovered a German branch linked to the Underground Railroad. A 1883 manuscript by Dr. R.C. Smedley, who treated aging former conductors, introduced her to William Parker, an escaped slave who helped organize a self‑defense group in Christiana, Pennsylvania, and sparked the 1851 Christiana riot.
“I grew up in Philadelphia and had never heard of the Christiana riot or William Parker,” Aptowicz said. “If this was such a seismic event to the community, how had I missed it?”
Research that spans coasts
Living in Texas, Aptowicz conducted virtual research in university libraries nationwide, scanning primary documents into a 1,000‑page “historical bible.” She color‑coded excerpts in blue, later converting them to black when she incorporated the material into her own prose, ensuring rigorous citation and avoiding plagiarism.
Field trips to Philadelphia and Christiana deepened her understanding of the era’s Black elite, who built their own libraries, labor unions and cemeteries. “Sunrises differ between city and country, and that subtle light shaped how I told the story,” she explained, noting how on‑the‑ground observation enriched the narrative.
Connecting past and present
Aptowicz reflected on how the book’s themes echo today’s struggles. She recalled that when she began writing, President Joe Biden was in office and ICE enforcement had not yet intensified. “Now we see communities pushing back against a monolithic federal government,” she said, drawing a line from 19th‑century resistance to modern efforts to protect families and faith‑based liberties.
The upcoming panel will give local readers a chance to hear how historical research can inform contemporary civic engagement, especially for families seeking to understand the roots of American liberty.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
