The code word that James used to represent enslaved people seeking freedom was passengers.
The Breakdown
This term was used in the context of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the 19th century. The Underground Railroad helped enslaved individuals escape to free states or Canada. The use of the term "passengers" allowed individuals involved in the Underground Railroad to communicate discreetly about the movement of enslaved people without arousing suspicion or revealing their true intentions.
The use of code words was a strategy employed by those committed to the abolitionist cause to protect the identities and movements of those escaping slavery and maintain the secrecy of the Underground Railroad network.