Still Family

William Still, hailed as the Father of the Underground Railroad, was a visionary leader and courageous champion of freedom. A brilliant strategist and tireless organizer, he assisted thousands of Americans in escaping slavery through a covert network he helped develop and sustain during one of the most transformative periods in American history. His efforts in the abolition movement pushed America closer to the great national reckoning of the Civil War. His pursuit of justice was profoundly personal—rooted in his devotion to family and an unwavering belief in liberty.

This compelling narrative, brought to the page by his great-great grandniece—author and sports legend Valerie Still—restores the legacy of a pivotal yet often overlooked freedom fighter. Through never-before-published letters and rare archival materials, it unveils the private world of a man whose courage transformed lives. Central to this powerful account is the poignant correspondence between William and his daughter, Caroline Virginia Still—a pioneering scholar of the nineteenth century, a working mother, and one of the first Black women physicians in the United States.

Rich in research and deeply personal, this book also celebrates the extraordinary women who shaped William's life and legacy—from his courageous mother, Charity, and steadfast wife, Letitia, to legendary allies like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. More than a biography, it offers a vivid portrait of an American family's over three-hundred-year journey from enslavement to empowerment to legacy—an enduring testament to resistance, resilience, and love. Ultimately, it shows that true liberation and empowerment are rooted in the bonds we share as family—and more broadly as a human family.