By: CA Staff Writer | Feb 13, 2025
Clarksdale, Mississippi – Harriet Tubman’s life was one of courage, determination, and unwavering faith in freedom. Born Araminta Ross around 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, she was enslaved from birth. Tubman endured unimaginable hardships—frequent beatings, back-breaking labor, and even a near-fatal head injury—but these trials only strengthened her resolve to be free.
In 1849, Tubman made the life-altering decision to escape. Traveling alone, she trekked nearly 90 miles to Pennsylvania, a free state. But freedom alone was not enough for Tubman. She returned to Maryland at great personal risk to help free her family and others still in bondage.
Over the next decade, Tubman became one of the most successful “conductors” of the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses and abolitionists that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Tubman’s deep knowledge of the land, combined with her ingenuity and fierce determination, allowed her to lead more than 70 people to safety. She earned the nickname “Moses” because, like the biblical figure, she delivered her people from oppression.
During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse, cook, and spy for the Union Army. She played a key role in the Combahee River Raid in 1863, leading Union forces to free over 700 enslaved people in South Carolina. Tubman’s contributions during the war were nothing short of heroic, but she received little formal recognition or compensation at the time.
In her later years, Tubman settled in Auburn, New York, where she continued to fight for justice. She advocated for women’s suffrage and established a home for elderly and impoverished African Americans. Despite living in poverty for much of her life, Tubman’s spirit remained unbreakable.
Harriet Tubman died in 1913, but her legacy lives on. She is remembered not only as a fearless liberator but also as a symbol of hope and resilience. Her life is a powerful reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, one person’s courage can change the course of history.
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