02/14/2024
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913) was an African American abolitionist, humanitarian, and during the American Civil War, a Union spy. Born into slavery in Maryland, Tubman escaped to freedom in the North in 1849. However, her personal liberty was not enough; she became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used to help enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada. Tubman is credited with making 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using her knowledge of covert travel and survival techniques.
Tubman's bravery and determination were unparalleled. She never lost a "passenger" on the Underground Railroad, earning her the nickname "Moses" for leading her people to freedom. During the Civil War, she served the Union Army as a cook, nurse, and even a scout and spy, becoming the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, which liberated more than 700 slaves in South Carolina.
After the war, Tubman dedicated her life to helping impoverished former slaves and the elderly, establishing the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged on land adjacent to her home in Auburn, New York. Her legacy extends far beyond her role in the abolition and Civil War; she's celebrated as a symbol of courage, resilience, and freedom. Tubman's life and work have been honored in numerous ways, including in literature, film, and through the naming of schools and public spaces. In 2016, it was announced that Harriet Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the center of a new $20 bill design, a move that would make her the first African American woman to be featured on U.S. currency, highlighting her enduring legacy as one of America's most iconic and inspirational figures.