An Introduction to Harriet Tubman
I don’t know much about Harriet Tubman. I was always more interested in Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass. Tubman was often promoted by people whose worldview I did not share so I did not give her much thought. Probably the same reason I gravitated towards Malcolm X over Martin Luther King. There was also this mystery that surrounded Tubman and her exploits seemed too fanciful.
I saw an exchange on Twitter today about Harriet Tubman with a link to an article published by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University. I read the article and here is some of what I found.
- Her story is often used by politicians who spread more fiction about her than facts.
- In March of 2008 the Journal of American History identified her as the third most identified African American historical figure (after Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks). This is surprising and might indicate the success of promotion and some of the mythology.
- She was born a slave around 1822 in Maryland and in 1844 she escaped to Philadelphia via the underground railroad.
- During the 10 years after her escape, she made “between 11 to 13” trips to Maryland and brought back roughly 70 slaves. The myth has her making 19 trips and bringing back 300 slaves qualifying to be dubbed the “Black Moses.”
- It is unlikely that there was a $40,000 reward for her capture as legend has it.
- During the Civil War she cared for black soldiers and freed slaves in Union camps. There is evidence she scouted and guided for Union troops and was a spy. It is unlikely “she was the first female general and commanded a raid”.
- After the war she lived comfortably on a farm in New York and founded and ran a home for aged black men many of whom were Union army veterans.
It appears Harriet Tubman lived an extraordinary life and deserves to be recognized for her accomplishments, courage, and service. The myths and mystery diminish instead of enhance her memory.
