The Ohio River once symbolized the passage of blacks from slavery to freedom along the underground railroad. Hence, they frequently referred to it as the "River Jordan". Yet in the urban centers along the river's shores, blacks faced racial hostility. Here Joe Trotter examines African American life in the Ohio Valley cities Evansville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, from the arrival of the first blacks to the Civil Rights movement. 21 photos. 5 maps.