Another important true story in Black American history is the legacy of Harriet Tubman and her work with the Underground Railroad. Tubman was born into slavery in the early 1820s in Maryland, and after escaping to freedom herself in 1849, she made the extraordinary decision to return again and again to slave-holding states to help others escape. At great personal risk, she became one of the most effective “conductors” on the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses, routes, and allies that helped enslaved Black Americans reach free states in the North and Canada.
What makes Harriet Tubman’s story especially powerful is the sheer danger she faced every time she returned south. Slave catchers were actively hunting for her, and there were rewards offered for her capture. Despite this, she reportedly made around 13 missions back into slave states and helped guide dozens of people—family members and strangers alike—to freedom. She used intelligence, knowledge of terrain, disguises, and careful planning to avoid capture. Her courage earned her the nickname “Moses,” because she led people out of bondage much like the biblical figure led people to freedom.
During the American Civil War, Tubman also worked for the Union Army as a scout, spy, and nurse. One of her most remarkable contributions was her involvement in the Combahee River Raid, where she helped guide Union troops to liberate more than 700 enslaved people in South Carolina. This made her the first woman in U.S. history to lead an armed military expedition. Even after the war, she continued advocating for justice, supporting formerly enslaved people, and later working for women’s suffrage.
Harriet Tubman’s life is remembered not just for bravery, but for her deep commitment to freedom as a collective right. She didn’t only escape slavery—she returned to dismantle its reach for others. Her story remains a powerful example of resistance, strategy, and unwavering care for community in the face of extreme danger.
What makes Harriet Tubman’s story especially powerful is the sheer danger she faced every time she returned south. Slave catchers were actively hunting for her, and there were rewards offered for her capture. Despite this, she reportedly made around 13 missions back into slave states and helped guide dozens of people—family members and strangers alike—to freedom. She used intelligence, knowledge of terrain, disguises, and careful planning to avoid capture. Her courage earned her the nickname “Moses,” because she led people out of bondage much like the biblical figure led people to freedom.
During the American Civil War, Tubman also worked for the Union Army as a scout, spy, and nurse. One of her most remarkable contributions was her involvement in the Combahee River Raid, where she helped guide Union troops to liberate more than 700 enslaved people in South Carolina. This made her the first woman in U.S. history to lead an armed military expedition. Even after the war, she continued advocating for justice, supporting formerly enslaved people, and later working for women’s suffrage.
Harriet Tubman’s life is remembered not just for bravery, but for her deep commitment to freedom as a collective right. She didn’t only escape slavery—she returned to dismantle its reach for others. Her story remains a powerful example of resistance, strategy, and unwavering care for community in the face of extreme danger.
1/5
1
2
3
4
5
