Harriet Tubman: The Underground Railroad Biopic
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Harriet Tubman: From Enslaved Woman to conductor on the Underground Railroad
Early Life adn Escape from Slavery
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta “Minty” Ross around 1822 in dorchester County, Maryland, endured a brutal childhood marked by the horrors of slavery. Her parents, Harriet Green and Ben Ross, were enslaved, and she experienced firsthand the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon enslaved people. She was hired out as a child, suffering abuse and enduring harsh labor. A severe head injury sustained around the age of 13, when an overseer struck her with a weight, caused lifelong seizures and vivid dreams, which she attributed to divine guidance.
In 1849, fearing sale and separation from her family, Tubman made the courageous decision to escape to freedom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She traveled nearly 90 miles, relying on the network of abolitionists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. This escape wasn’t simply a flight to personal liberty; it ignited a lifelong commitment to liberating others.
The Underground Railroad and Repeated Missions
Once free, Tubman didn’t rest. Driven by a profound sense of duty and faith, she became a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, risking her life repeatedly to guide others to freedom. between 1850 and 1860, she made approximately 19 trips back to the South, leading an estimated 300 people – including her parents and several siblings – to safety in the North and Canada.
Her success was remarkable, and she became known as “Moses” to those she led, a testament to her role in leading her people out of bondage. She employed clever tactics to evade capture, traveling primarily at night, utilizing disguises, and relying on a network of trusted allies.She carried a pistol for protection, not to harm those pursuing her, but to encourage those contemplating turning back, ensuring the safety of the group.
Civil War Service and Beyond
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Tubman offered her services to the Union army. She worked as a cook, nurse, and scout, utilizing her knowledge of the Southern landscape and her network of contacts to gather intelligence. Most notably, she led the Combahee River Raid in 1863, a military operation that freed over 700 enslaved people in South Carolina. This raid is considered one of the few military campaigns led by a woman during the Civil War.
After the war,Tubman dedicated herself to aiding formerly enslaved people. She established the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in Auburn, New York, providing a haven for those in need. She also became a vocal advocate for women’s suffrage,working alongside prominent suffragists like Susan B. Anthony.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1822 | Harriet Tubman born in Maryland |
| 1849 | Escapes to freedom in Philadelphia |
| 1850-1860 | Conducts approximately 19 missions on the Underground Railroad |
| 1863 | leads the Combahee River Raid |
| 1913 | Dies in auburn, New York |