Cincinnati was on the northern border of the Mason–Dixon line and an important stop on the Underground Railroad. He helped fugitive slaves make their way north through the city. He wrote poetry about ways to improve the life of African Americans, and particularly those who were enslaved. His anti-slavery poems and speeches became popular. He also wrote about the need for educational opportunities and civil rights. He read his poetry and gave lectures in Cincinnati, but his income was mainly derived from plastering.
