Harriet Tubman fearlessly risked her life to save hundreds of enslaved Black people – but sometimes we forget an important part of her identity and motivation.
Like us, Tubman was a human with feelings! After she escaped in 1849, Tubman worked as a housekeeper in Philadelphia, but felt extremely lonely.
Her heart ached for her family. She refused to return to enslavement, but realized she wouldn’t feel free until her community was too.
Tubman returned South to rescue her niece and niece’s children. With help from other members of the Underground Railroad, her mission succeeded.
In 1850 the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, and rescue missions became extremely dangerous – but that didn’t stop Tubman.
From 1849 to 1860 Tubman rescued anywhere from 70 to 300 people, including her parents.
2022 marks 200 years since Tubman’s birth! With celebratory events like those at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Maryland, we can honor Tubman by gathering our communities and attending one.
Before enslavement, many West African cultures knew that in unity, there is strength. Enslaved Africans carried this with them throughout the Middle Passage and enslavement, and it’s why community is still so important for all Black people today.
While Tubman is a hero, she was also a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Like Tubman, we must understand that liberation and building a strong Black community go hand in hand!