Photo Credit: CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The gritty and fearless Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland before escaping to freedom in the North in 1849 to become the founder and conductor of the Underground Railroad. Tubman is a Black History legend because she risked her life to lead her family members and hundreds of other slaves to freedom from the plantation system.

An abolitionist before the start of the American Civil War, Tubman assisted the Union army during the war serving as an artificial spy, cook, and nurse. She is also revered as the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, leading the Combahee River Raid as “General” Tubman. The raid freed over 700 slaves in South Carolina alone.

After the Civil War, Tubman figured her life’s mission was to aid former impoverished slaves and elderly people. In honor of her life, the U.S. Treasury Department declared Tubman the new face of the $20 bill in replace of former president Andrew Jackson, a declaration that has not come to fruition to date.

Tubman’s early childhood was filled with hardship and emotional turmoil. Three of Tubman’s sisters were sold to separate plantations, severely separating the family. Physical violence plagued her childhood as the abuse she faced early in her life caused permanent damage to her body, mental state, and health.

Her most severe injury occurred during her early adolescence. Sent to a store for supplies, she was face-to-face with a runaway slave that she was ordered to restrain. Empathizing with the slave’s escape tactics, Tubman refused, causing the slave master to strike her upside the head with two pounds of weight. As a result, Tubman had seizures, headaches, and severe cases of narcolepsy for the rest of her life.

Although the blow to her head caused brain trauma, she did not allow past trauma to be the barrier between the freedom of her beloved African people. This led to the Underground Railroad she followed when she first escaped slavery in 1849. Between 1850-1860, she made 19 trips from the South to the North following the Underground Railroad. She led over 300 people, including her immediate family members, from slavery to leadership.

Harriet Tubman was her generation’s Moses, parting the Red Sea – or the Underground Railroad – to lead her people to a better life.

The feeling of freedom was one that was surreal to Tubman, recalling feelings of disbelief and awe. “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person,” Tubman said. “There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven.

Her Underground Railroad garnered attention from law enforcement officers, which led to President Millard Fillmore passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stating that escaped slaves could be detained in the North and returned to their plantation. This led to a plethora of blacks being abducted in free states and returned to slavery.

Tubman caught word of the Fugitive Slave Law and immediately re-routed the Underground Railroad from Philadelphia to California, which outlawed slavery.

Harriet Tubman died due to complications from pneumonia on March 10, 1913, at the age of 93. The brain trauma she endured as an adolescent revisited her during the latter stages of her life. She is buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

81 COMMENTS

  2. Great article! That is the type of info that are meant to be
    shared across the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this post upper!
    Come on over and talk over with my web site .
    Thanks =)

  12. Hello to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this webpage; this weblog consists of awesome and in fact good stuff designed for visitors.

  14. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to
    this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding
    your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates
    and will share this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

    Also visit my website :: Super Shot Keto Review [Caleb]

  16. My brother suggested I would possibly like this website. He used to be entirely right. This submit truly made my day. You cann’t consider simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thank you!

  17. Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
    it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine.

    Please let me know where you got your design. Bless you

  19. Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this topic for a while and yours
    is the greatest I’ve came upon till now.
    However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain in regards
    to the source?

  20. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is important and all. Nevertheless
    think about if you added some great pictures or videos to give your posts more, “pop”!
    Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this blog could certainly be one
    of the greatest in its niche. Fantastic blog!

  21. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my
    own weblog and was curious what all is required to get set up?

    I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a
    pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any suggestions or advice would
    be greatly appreciated. Cheers

  22. Its such as you learn my thoughts! You seem to understand so
    much about this, like you wrote the guide in it or something.

    I think that you simply can do with a few percent to drive the message home a
    bit, but instead of that, that is wonderful blog.
    An excellent read. I will definitely be back.

  23. Appreciating the dedication you put into your blog and detailed information you present.

    It’s good to come across a blog every once in a
    while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
    Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  24. Hi there! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Looking through
    this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about
    this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a
    very good read. I appreciate you for sharing!

  25. Can I simply say what a relief to discover somebody that truly understands what they’re talking about online.
    You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
    A lot more people really need to read this and understand this side of your story.
    I can’t believe you aren’t more popular because you definitely possess the gift.

  26. Fantastic website you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get feedback from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks a lot!

  27. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but
    after looking at many of the articles I realized it’s new to
    me. Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I found it
    and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!

  28. Hey There. I discovered your weblog the usage of msn. This is an extremely neatly written article.
    I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your useful information.
    Thank you for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  29. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and
    found that it’s truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
    I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future.

    A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  30. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
    I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read
    more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  31. I just like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
    I will bookmark your weblog and check once more right
    here frequently. I’m reasonably sure I will be told a lot of new stuff right
    here! Good luck for the following!

  32. I’m very happy to uncover this great site. I wanted to thank you
    for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely really liked every little bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to see new information in your website.

  34. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Spending some
    time and actual effort to create a great article… but what
    can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.

  35. you’re truly a good webmaster. The web site loading pace is amazing.

    It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece.
    you’ve done a great activity in this topic!

  38. A person necessarily help to make significantly articles I would state.
    This is the very first time I frequented your web
    page and to this point? I surprised with the analysis you made to create
    this particular publish extraordinary. Wonderful activity!

    0mniartist asmr

  40. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article.
    I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
    Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.

  41. No matter if some one searches for his required thing, therefore he/she wishes to be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.

  43. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast!

    What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to
    your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  44. We are against animal tourism of any kind, be it a zoo or elephant rides, etc.,It is sad to see exotic animals restrained in enclosures. Flossy Claus Jan

  46. What i do not realize is in truth how you are no longer really a lot more well-favored than you might be now. You are so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably when it comes to this subject, produced me in my opinion consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated except it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times deal with it up! Melody Ham Theda

  48. Crud much unstinting violently pessimistically far camel inanimately a remade dove disagreed hellish one concisely before with this erotic frivolous. Candide Elias Balthasar

  49. naturally like your web site however you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the reality on the other hand I will certainly come again again. Jamie Weidar Dorthy

  50. that could be the finish of this article. Right here you will obtain some web pages that we think youll appreciate, just click the hyperlinks over Tamarra Rollie Dobrinsky

  52. Thanks for the strategies presented. One thing I additionally believe is that often credit cards presenting a 0 rate of interest often attract consumers with zero interest rate, instant endorsement and easy on the net balance transfers, nonetheless beware of the number one factor that will certainly void your current 0 easy street annual percentage rate and to throw one out into the very poor house quickly. Ardeen Herman Ertha

  53. magnificent issues altogether, you just gained a new reader. What may you suggest about your publish that you made some days in the past? Any positive? Trenna Robinet Rimola

  54. Hello there. I discovered your site by means of Google while looking for a related subject, your web site got here up. It seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then. Shaylyn Marcelo Phelips

  56. Having read this I believed it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile. Andeee Alix Nabala

  57. I really enjoy this theme youve got going on in your web site. What is the name of the design by the way? I was thinking of using this style for the blog I Odille Artie Newbill

  59. Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a top notch article?but what can I say?I put things off a lot and never manage to get anything done. Ami Roldan Hurlow

  61. Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated data, nevertheless genuinely worth taking a search, whoa did one particular learn about Mid East has got much more problerms also Kirsti Abbe Winson

  62. The next time I check out a blog site, I really hope that it does not dissatisfy me as much as this. I imply, I know it was my selection to check out, yet I actually believed youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a number of yawping concerning something that you can take care of if you werent too hectic looking for interest. Reine Douglas Lipman

  63. Hi, why is it that all the “urls submitted by sitemaps” and the “urls on web index” of all my sites went terribly down? Are there any changes made by google on how and how often do they update the data here? Thanks Angela Calv Coleville

  64. I actually wanted to develop a brief note to express gratitude to you for all of the precious ideas you are posting at this site. My incredibly long internet research has now been compensated with reasonable facts and strategies to write about with my pals. I would admit that we site visitors are really blessed to be in a magnificent site with very many lovely professionals with good advice. I feel somewhat fortunate to have come across your web page and look forward to many more fun minutes reading here. Thanks a lot again for all the details. Stacey Bobbie Colon

  66. Everything is very open with a clear description of the challenges. It was definitely informative. Your website is useful. Thanks for sharing! Roselia Benson Kristin

  67. Keep up the fantastic work , I read few posts on this internet site and I think that your blog is rattling interesting and has got circles of wonderful information. Alexandrina Zebulen Rozanne

  73. Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! Heda Lamar Croft

  75. Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!

    Cheers

  76. I just wanted to compose a message so as to express gratitude to you for those magnificent techniques you are sharing at this website. My considerable internet look up has at the end of the day been recognized with sensible strategies to exchange with my great friends. I would suppose that we visitors are really lucky to be in a very good website with so many marvellous individuals with interesting tactics. I feel very happy to have used your website page and look forward to so many more excellent moments reading here. Thanks again for a lot of things. Riki Bern Deloria

  78. Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing
    to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they
    plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take
    a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

Comments are closed.