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Harriet Tubman’s name stands among the most revered in American history. A woman of extraordinary courage, vision, and resilience, Tubman not only escaped the brutal system of slavery but also dedicated her life to helping others gain their freedom. Known as the “Moses of her people,” her legacy continues to inspire generations fighting for justice, freedom, and equality.
Harriet Tubman was born around 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, into the shackles of slavery. Her birth name was Araminta Ross, and she was one of nine children born to Harriet “Rit” Green and Ben Ross. From an early age, Harriet was subjected to the harsh realities of slavery—beaten, overworked, and often separated from her family.
One particularly traumatic event left her with a lifelong physical condition. As a teenager, Harriet was struck in the head by a heavy metal weight, thrown by an overseer who was trying to hit another enslaved person. The injury caused her to suffer from seizures, visions, and intense dreamlike states, which she later described as spiritual revelations from God.
In 1849, fearing that she would be sold away from her family, Harriet made the bold decision to escape. She fled northward, traveling mostly by night and using the Underground Railroad, a secret network of abolitionists, safe houses, and escape routes. After a harrowing journey, she reached Pennsylvania—a free state—and for the first time in her life, breathed the air of freedom.
But Harriet’s freedom was not enough.
She could not rest knowing her family and others remained enslaved. That’s when her life’s mission took shape.
Between 1850 and 1860, Harriet Tubman made 13 documented missions into the South and helped around 70 enslaved people escape to freedom, including siblings, nieces, and nephews. She provided guidance and direction for dozens more. Her ability to evade capture earned her the nickname “Moses,” after the biblical leader who led the Israelites out of bondage.
Tubman used clever disguises, strategic planning, and an intricate system of signals and songs to guide her travelers. She carried a pistol—not just for protection, but also to discourage those who got cold feet from turning back and jeopardizing the group.
One of her famous quotes reflects her determination:
“I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.”
Despite having a bounty placed on her head, Tubman was never caught.
Harriet Tubman’s faith was the compass that guided her. She believed her visions were divine messages and relied heavily on prayer and spiritual intuition. Her courage came from a deep conviction that what she was doing was just and divinely ordained.
Her leadership was not rooted in formal education—Tubman never learned to read or write—but in instinct, integrity, and bold action. In a time when Black women had little to no agency, Tubman embodied radical freedom and fearlessness.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Tubman saw another opportunity to fight for liberation. She joined the Union Army, first as a nurse and cook, but soon took on more dangerous roles as a spy and scout.
In 1863, she helped plan and lead the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina—a mission that resulted in the liberation of over 700 enslaved people. It was one of the few military operations during the Civil War led by a woman, and certainly the only one by an African American woman.
Her work during the war earned praise from Union officers, but Tubman was not compensated for her efforts for many years.
After the war, Harriet settled in Auburn, New York, on land purchased from abolitionist Senator William H. Seward. Her fight for justice didn’t stop with the abolition of slavery. She became active in the women’s suffrage movement, working alongside Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth to demand voting rights for women.
Though often overshadowed in white-dominated suffrage circles, Tubman’s advocacy highlighted the unique struggles of Black women.
She also opened the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People, providing care and shelter for those in need—particularly elderly African Americans with no resources. Even in her old age, Tubman gave what little she had to others.
Harriet Tubman passed away in 1913 at about 91 years old, surrounded by loved ones and buried with military honors. Her last words were reported to be:
“I go to prepare a place for you.”
Today, Tubman is widely celebrated as a national hero. Her legacy is etched into history through:
Numerous schools, parks, and institutions bearing her name.
A U.S. Navy ship, the USS Harriet Tubman, proposed to honor her Civil War service.
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland.
Her pending image on the U.S. $20 bill, a long-delayed but symbolic recognition of her role in American history.
Harriet Tubman’s life is more than just a tale of bravery. It is a powerful reminder of what one determined individual can achieve in the face of overwhelming oppression. In an age where systemic injustice still exists, Tubman’s legacy calls us to:
Resist injustice in all forms.
Act courageously, even when it’s dangerous or unpopular.
Lift others up, especially those most marginalized.
Center our work on faith, vision, and community.
Her story shows us that liberation is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey of struggle, sacrifice, and service.
While Harriet Tubman left no written memoirs, many of her quotes survive, revealing her wit, wisdom, and will:
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.”
“I had reasoned this out in my mind: there was one of two things I had a right to—liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.”
“God’s time is always near.”
These words still resonate today with anyone seeking freedom, justice, and equality.
Harriet Tubman was more than a conductor on the Underground Railroad—she was a freedom fighter, a veteran, a nurse, a suffragist, and a spiritual warrior. Her story is not just Black history or women’s history; it is American history.
To learn more and honor her legacy, consider visiting museums dedicated to her work, reading books like Bound for the Promised Land by Kate Clifford Larson, or supporting causes aligned with Tubman’s lifelong mission of justice and care.
As long as freedom remains a goal worth fighting for, the spirit of Harriet Tubman will march on.
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