Harriet Tubman: Stealing Stolen Freedom

Harriet Tubman
March 1822– March 10, 1913
Photo source: Library of Congress

Harriet Tubman, black disabled woman, was the personification of the concept that “no one of us can be free until everybody is free”. She obtained her own freedom through escape, and she used it as an opportunity to help free others.

The 59 Black HERoes project is designed to highlight the unconventional radical leaders that are rarely discussed; however, Tubman is a well-known name. It is common knowledge that she was born enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland. It is also common knowledge that her work in the Underground Railroad, as well as spying for the Union, led to the freedom of at least 770 enslaved people; 70 which due to the Underground Railroad missions, and 700 due to the Combahee Ferry raid.

Her place in this project is an opportunity to discuss her in a new way. It is so easy to read a history book today and immediately conclude that Tubman was a hero for her work, but during her time she was viewed as a thief. Tubman’s work of “freeing slaves” considered theft of property in the context of her time. Each enslaved person cost approximately $1200 (price can vary depending on the age and physicality of the individual), which is equivalent to about $42,000 in today’s dollars. Given this, it can be estimated that Tubman’s work contributed to “theft” valuing $924,000 ($84,000 for Underground Railroad Missions and $840,000 due to the Combahee Ferry Raid).

Despite legality and the social norm of slavery, Tubman along with abolitionists in the Underground railroad, and the Union soldiers went against the rules, social norms, and even the laws to secure freedom.

This blog project also notes not only her disability, but the means by which she’d become disabled. Her injury is part of a long line of injuries and disabilities that the violence of White Supremacy has caused Black Women and Black Communities. This is meant to present Tubman in her entirety instead of erasing parts of her. She suffered from dizziness and hypersomnia. Her affliction was the result of a head injury from a human trafficker (normally referred to as “slave owner”) threw a metal weight that hit her head. Despite the injury, Tubman’s path to freedom was never detoured. Her legacy is that she “never lost a passenger” and she never got caught.

She is a courageous and bold leader. Harriet Tubman, we honor you.

Sources

Research Guides: Harriet Tubman: A Resource Guide: Introduction. guides.loc.gov/harriet-tubman. Accessed 1 March. 2022.

Bradford, Sarah. Sarah H. Bradford: (3 Books) – SCENES IN THE LIFE OF HARRIET TUBMAN, HARRIET, THE MOSES OF HER PEOPLE, LEWIE; OR, THE BENDED TWIG. 2021.