Excerpt
Introduction
Imagine being a kid growing up on a plantation, having to work long hours in the fields and being treated harshly just because of the color of your skin. This was the world Harriet Tubman was born into. Harriet was born around 1822 in Maryland, and her life was filled with challenges from the very beginning. She was born into slavery, which meant she and her family were considered the property of the plantation owner. They didn't have the freedom to make their own choices, and their lives were controlled by others.
Harriet's birth name was Araminta Ross, and she was often called "Minty" by her family. Even as a young girl, Harriet was strong and determined. She had to be, given the hard life she was living. She was hired out to work for different families starting from the age of five. One of her jobs was to check muskrat traps in icy cold rivers. It was dangerous and exhausting work, especially for a little girl.
Life was tough for Harriet, but she never lost her spirit. Her mother, Harriet "Rit" Green, was a strong influence on her. Rit was determined and brave, and she passed those qualities on to her daughter. Harriet's father, Ben Ross, was also a source of strength. He taught her about the forest, how to navigate through the woods, and how to survive in nature. These skills would become incredibly important later in Harriet's life.
One day, when Harriet was about twelve years old, something happened that changed her life forever. She was in a store when she saw an enslaved person trying to escape. The overseer (the person in charge of making sure enslaved people didn't run away) threw a heavy weight at the man, but it hit Harriet instead. She was badly injured and suffered from headaches and seizures for the rest of her life. Despite this, Harriet didn't let it stop her. She was determined to be free.
Harriet decided she had to escape. She knew it was dangerous, but staying in slavery was not an option for her. In 1849, Harriet made her escape. She used the skills her father taught her to navigate through the woods and find her way north. After a long and treacherous journey, she finally reached Pennsylvania, a free state. For the first time in her life, Harriet was free. But she didn't forget about the people she left behind.
Freedom was sweet, but Harriet knew she couldn't enjoy it while her family and friends were still in bondage. She made a courageous decision: she would go back and help others escape. This was incredibly risky. If she were caught, she would face severe punishment or even death. But Harriet was fearless. She returned to the South many times, guiding dozens of enslaved people to freedom along the secret network known as the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad wasn't a real railroad with tracks and trains. It was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to free states and Canada. The people who helped them were called "conductors," and Harriet Tubman became one of the most famous conductors of all time. She never lost a single person she was guiding, earning her the nickname "Moses," after the biblical figure who led his people to freedom.
Harriet's bravery and determination were truly remarkable. She used clever strategies to avoid capture. For example, she would travel at night and use the North Star to guide her. She knew how to blend into her surroundings and communicate in code. Harriet also carried a gun for protection, not just from slave catchers, but to motivate anyone who might get scared and want to turn back. She couldn't afford to have anyone give away their location.
But Harriet's work didn't stop with the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, she worked for the Union Army as a cook, nurse, and even a spy. She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, guiding a raid that freed over 700 enslaved people. Harriet Tubman's contributions to the war effort were invaluable, and she was a true hero.
After the war, Harriet continued to fight for justice. She worked tirelessly to help formerly enslaved people start new lives. She also became involved in the women's suffrage movement, fighting for women's right to vote. Harriet Tubman's life was a testament to the power of courage, resilience, and a deep commitment to freedom and equality.
Imagine being a kid growing up on a plantation, having to work long hours in the fields and being treated harshly just because of the color of your skin. This was the world Harriet Tubman was born into. Harriet was born around 1822 in Maryland, and her life was filled with challenges from the very beginning. She was born into slavery, which meant she and her family were considered the property of the plantation owner. They didn't have the freedom to make their own choices, and their lives were controlled by others.
Harriet's birth name was Araminta Ross, and she was often called "Minty" by her family. Even as a young girl, Harriet was strong and determined. She had to be, given the hard life she was living. She was hired out to work for different families starting from the age of five. One of her jobs was to check muskrat traps in icy cold rivers. It was dangerous and exhausting work, especially for a little girl.
Life was tough for Harriet, but she never lost her spirit. Her mother, Harriet "Rit" Green, was a strong influence on her. Rit was determined and brave, and she passed those qualities on to her daughter. Harriet's father, Ben Ross, was also a source of strength. He taught her about the forest, how to navigate through the woods, and how to survive in nature. These skills would become incredibly important later in Harriet's life.
One day, when Harriet was about twelve years old, something happened that changed her life forever. She was in a store when she saw an enslaved person trying to escape. The overseer (the person in charge of making sure enslaved people didn't run away) threw a heavy weight at the man, but it hit Harriet instead. She was badly injured and suffered from headaches and seizures for the rest of her life. Despite this, Harriet didn't let it stop her. She was determined to be free.
Harriet decided she had to escape. She knew it was dangerous, but staying in slavery was not an option for her. In 1849, Harriet made her escape. She used the skills her father taught her to navigate through the woods and find her way north. After a long and treacherous journey, she finally reached Pennsylvania, a free state. For the first time in her life, Harriet was free. But she didn't forget about the people she left behind.
Freedom was sweet, but Harriet knew she couldn't enjoy it while her family and friends were still in bondage. She made a courageous decision: she would go back and help others escape. This was incredibly risky. If she were caught, she would face severe punishment or even death. But Harriet was fearless. She returned to the South many times, guiding dozens of enslaved people to freedom along the secret network known as the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad wasn't a real railroad with tracks and trains. It was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to free states and Canada. The people who helped them were called "conductors," and Harriet Tubman became one of the most famous conductors of all time. She never lost a single person she was guiding, earning her the nickname "Moses," after the biblical figure who led his people to freedom.
Harriet's bravery and determination were truly remarkable. She used clever strategies to avoid capture. For example, she would travel at night and use the North Star to guide her. She knew how to blend into her surroundings and communicate in code. Harriet also carried a gun for protection, not just from slave catchers, but to motivate anyone who might get scared and want to turn back. She couldn't afford to have anyone give away their location.
But Harriet's work didn't stop with the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, she worked for the Union Army as a cook, nurse, and even a spy. She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, guiding a raid that freed over 700 enslaved people. Harriet Tubman's contributions to the war effort were invaluable, and she was a true hero.
After the war, Harriet continued to fight for justice. She worked tirelessly to help formerly enslaved people start new lives. She also became involved in the women's suffrage movement, fighting for women's right to vote. Harriet Tubman's life was a testament to the power of courage, resilience, and a deep commitment to freedom and equality.