Warrior Women

I started researching Ms Harriet Tubman and all I could say was, Wow. Just Wow. She was born into slavery, somewhere between 1820 and 1825, in Maryland, one of nine children of Harriet Green and Ben Ross. Oh, and by the way, her parents were owned by two different people.

 

By all accounts, Harriet’s childhood was a rather violent one. Not only did she endure the indignities of the concept of slavery, she also suffered the daily realities, mostly in the form of whippings – even as a child.

 

When Ms Tubman was in her early teens she suffered a severe head injury. When ordered to help subdue a runaway slave, she refused; the overseer either hit her with something or threw a heavy object at her. Either way, she felt the effects of this act for the rest of her life, experiencing seizures, narcolepsy and intense headaches.

 

Harriet Tubman lived in the clutches of slavery most of her childhood. For many years, she witnessed the departure of family members as they were sold to other farmers. In 1849 she escaped, ran away to Philadelphia. Her husband, John Tubman, whom she had married in 1844, refused to accompany her. She left without him.

 

And thus began Ms Tubman’s life’s work. In December of 1850, she brought several close family members to Philadelphia, and continued to guide escapees north, via the Underground Railroad. She worked relentlessly, often using her own funds, to bring people to freedom. With the passage of The Fugitive Slave Act, Philadelphia, although situated in a free state, was no longer a safe place. The Act compelled citizens to seize

escaped slaves and deliver them to the authorities. In response, Harriet Tubman began to escort people, still via the Underground Railroad, to Canada. To St Catharine’s, Ontario, to be exact.

 

In 1860, Ms Tubman made her last trip. However, this incredible, astonishing woman was not done. She joined the Union Army (or worked for the Union Army) and worked as a cook and/or nurse during the Civil War of 1861-1864. And then… she became an army scout and a spy! Doesn’t this all sound like a fantastic story? Or a really great movie? It’s all true, though. Some of the details might have been lost in time, but her determination, iron will, strength of character and her desire to fight against a reprehensible system, will continue to hold the collective awareness and recognition of a remarkable woman.

 

In 1869, Ms Tubman married for a second time. It is said Harriet and her new husband led a peaceful life, until his death in 1888. She left this life on March 10, 1913 and what a sad world it is without her.

 

Bless you, Harriet Tubman. You were an amazing woman.

To see a photo of Harriet, go here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2961.html

Until next time