Orr-Weston 1

Luanna Orr-Weston
Professor Mckeever
English 1020
17 April 2014
Word Count: 1580
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a lead conductor on the Underground Railroad. She was responsible
for leading over three hundred slaves to freedom. After years passed, it was said that Tubman
was responsible for freeing slaves that exceeded well over a thousand. This meant that not every
slave that she set free was recorded. Some of these slaves stayed under the radar for Tubmans
own safety. Her story is nothing short of a heroic one that tells a story of an enslaved woman
who escapes slavery, but returns to help other slaves escape. Could you imagine escaping the
horror of being a slave, only to go back to help free others who were enslaved? What did it mean
to be a slave? What was life like as a slave? These are some of the questions that people may ask
in regards to slavery. Although I could not answer those questions before. I can now through the
life story of Harriet Tubman. Tubman was responsible for helping start the Underground
Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a system of secret routes and safe houses that were
used by slaves who escaped. Harriet Tubman became widely recognized for the key role that she
played in helping lead escaped fugitive slaves to freedom. Many people would describe Harriet
Tubman as a selfless and brave individual who consistently sacrificed her life for the sake of
others. Growing up Tubman was known as a devout Christian who had a strong belief God.
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Tubman had many memories of her mother reading bible stories to her as a young child. As a
child Tubman would wonder about freedom, and she was even brave enough to question why she
was not free despite the redundant answers she received, she had plans of one day being a free
woman walking a land of free people who were not enslaved. Tubman was often thought of as
being the Moses for her generation, this is because she became her peoples salvation. Moses
was a man in the bible who led his enslaved people to freedom through Gods instruction.
Tubman at times felt as if she was instructed by God to lead her people to freedom. She believed
she had what it took to do this by herself. Tubman was a hero who courageously walked others
to freedom despite the horrors she faced. There were the horrors of being caught that stayed on
slaves minds. These horrors are what continued to keep some slaves enslaved. However,
Tubman did not allow these fears to stop her from succeeding. She was not afraid to stand up in
the face of diversity. Her life served as an example of how to be a leader, chase after what you
believe in, and help others to do the same.
Araminta Harriet Ross was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her mother
Harriet Green and father Ben Ross were slaves as well. (Bio). She was one of nine children. In
those days, it was not uncommon to see slaves with large families. Plantation owners would
minimize this as best they could by selling some slaves to other plantations that needed extra
help. Three of Tubmans sisters were sold to other plantations, Tubman was heartbroken over
seeing her loved ones depart from her. (Bio). This is because Tubman grew up in a family
oriented home setting where her family was close, in a way they became each others comfort
through being enslaved. When the owner of her plantation tried to sell a fourth sibling Tubmans
mother fought against this, and as a result the fourth sibling of Tubman was not sold. (Bio). This
proved to be a life changing example to Tubman of how to lead and stand up for what she
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believed in. As a child Tubman worked as a house servant. As she grew into a teenager she was
sent to the fields to work. Tubman endured many harsh beatings as a slave. One day while
picking up supplies for her plantation owner, Tubman came across a fellow slave who wandered
off the working fields without permission. When the slave was being restrained Tubman was
asked to assist in restraining the slave. When she refused she was struck in the head with a two
pound metal weight. (Bio). This injury would follow Tubman for the remainder of her life. This
shows that Tubman had a mind of her own, and refused to be a follower of the slave mentality.
Tubman was independent, and displayed acts of leadership. This is why she knew someday she
would be free.
Tubman was surrounded by people who were free, so she had no choice but to believe
that someday she would be free as well. She began to question why she was slave, and
wonder what she could do to change this. Tubmans father Ben Ross became a free man
although his family was still enslaved. (Bio). This caused Tubman and her family to be at
odds with where they stood as a family. Although Tubman was happy for her fathers
freedom, she wanted to be free with him. However, the plantation that owned Tubman
and her family refused to free them. Tubman also married a free man by the name of John
Tubman. (Bio). She would eventually end up changing her last name as a result of
marriage to this man. Tubman was in love with John Tubman, but there was little time for
them to share as a married couple. This is because although married to a free man,
Tubman was still considered a slave. As a result she was forced to live her life as a slave,
and not a free woman. Many African American people on the Eastern shore of Maryland
became free. (Bio).Tubman saw this and was happy to see her fellow slaves progressing
but she wanted the same for herself and her family. Tubman would get her chance to
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chase after what she believed in. In 1849 Tubman escaped from slavery with two
siblings, and fled to Philadelphia. (Bio).This shows that Tubman had great courage and
determination to chase after what she believed in. Although at the time there were many
fears of being an escaped slave, Tubman was brave enough to look past the fear in order
to chase after her dream of being a free woman.
Once Tubman escaped from slavery, she was overwhelmed with joy. Her prayers had
been answered, and she had overcome diversity in order to have what she was deserving of.
Tubman was a devout Christian woman who sacrificed her life to rescue her family, and others
from slavery. Tubman knew that she couldnt live the rest of her life being free without the
people that she loved. Traveling back to Maryland was the only option. Once she traveled back
to Maryland she took part in rescuing her family and hundreds of others. This shows that
Tubman was a selfless person who wanted others to chase after their dreams of being free as
well. Tubmans way of doing this was convincing slaves that it was their right to be free. Many
slaves were manipulated by plantations owners to believe that they were born to be slaves, but
Tubman had a different perception. She convinced slaves to chase after freedom through the
Underground Railroad. Tubman was a lead conductor on the Underground Railroad who
intentionally led slaves to a destination of freedom. This helped slaves to realize that freedom
was possible.
Tubman was not just a courageous woman who escaped slavery. She was a courageous
woman who helped others escape slavery as well. Her life and actions can serve as an example to
young children and adults who aspire to be leaders that chase after their dreams, and help others
to do the same. Tubman can be looked at as a hero who created endless possibilities for the up
and coming generations. Tubman became an advocate for making a way out of no way. She
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proved this with becoming the lead conductor for the Underground Railroad. She discovered and
operated a resource that would impact the lives of hundreds that would lead to millions following
in her footsteps to become doers instead of thinkers. Some of the worlds greatest leaders have
paid homage to Tubman for showing them how to be brave leaders, such as Martin Luther King.
It took great courage and determination to do what she did, but she did not die saying she
wouldve done things differently. She died saying she wish she couldve convinced more slaves
to chase after their freedom. Based on Harriet Tubmans life, a life is not measured by how many
material possessions you gain, but instead by how many people you help on your way to
greatness.










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Works Cited

Andrews, William L., Frances Smith. Foster, and Trudier Harris. The Oxford Companion
to African American Literature. New York: Oxford UP, 1997. 294. Print
Harriet Tubman Biography. Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 18 Apr.
2014.
Nofi, Albert A. A Civil War Treasury: Being a Miscellany of arms and Artillery, Facts
and Figures. Legends and Lore, Muses and Minstrels, Personalities and People.
Conshohocking, PA: Combined, 1992. 32. Print.
The Religious World of Antislavery Women: Spirituality in the Lives of Five Abolitionist
Lecturers. New York: Syracuse UP, 2000. 182. Print.
Stephens, Claire Gatrell. 10. Coretta Scott King Award Books: Using Great Literature
with Children and Young Adults. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2000.
145. Print.