Harriet Tubman was always on the run from slave catchers, especially after the Fugitive Slave Law was passed and a $40,000 bounty was put on her head! So how did she keep escaping – and rescue hundreds of enslaved people?
#1: Disguises & Camouflage
Harriet Tubman disguised herself from slave snatchers with clever disguises! But when she was undisguised and slave snatchers were nearby, she had to think quickly, sometimes caking herself with mud and climbing a tree – praying this would hide her scent from the snatchers’ dogs.
#2: Transportation & Travel
Another disguise Tubman used was driving horse and buggy while hiding runaways inside. Or SHE would hide inside while other Underground Railroad members drove her through dangerous areas. Tubman also knew timing was everything, planning rescues for Saturday evenings because newspapers wouldn’t report them until Mondays.
#3: Medicine
Tubman carried medicine with her knowing she couldn’t risk someone’s cough or a sobbing, teething baby giving away their location.
#4: Weapons
Known for carrying a pistol, Tubman occasionally threatened her charges when fear made them want to turn back! Tubman knew this could endanger the entire mission, so she’d point the pistol at them and say, “You’ll be free or die.”
Tubman conducted between 11-20 rescue missions, risking recapture each time.
Like Tubman, we must be strategic and creative as we battle white supremacy, committing ourselves to an ongoing resistance. Although we live in modern times, liberation doesn’t happen overnight!