Harriet+Tubman

Harriet Tubman: A True Hero

“ // I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.” // This is a quote from Arminta Ross, also known as Harriet Tubman. In this quote, Harriet is saying that no matter what the color of her skin, she was entitled to liberty or death and no matter what she would have either both of them or just one. Harriet was born on in 1820 in Dorchester Country, Maryland. She was born into slavery. She worked with many families and was beaten by her masters. When Harriet grew up, she escaped from slavery and rescued her family from slavery. She lead 13 missions saving over 700 slaves. She also was the first women to lead an armed army, with her determination and hope to make a difference, she impacted history back then and today. []

When Harriet was born, her family was in slavery. Her childhood was nothing like today, quality time with family, play dates with friends. Harriet spent her days working extra hard. Everything was scarce because their family was so poor. Harriet had to also take care of her infant brother while her mom worked. When she began to work for families, she was abused by many of her masters. An incident that would change her life happened one day when she was at the store. A slave family was heading towards the fields to escape when they weren’t told to. Their master told Harriet it to restrain the man but she refused, so the master threw a two pound weight from the store counter and hit Harriet. This left her with a lifetime of headaches, illusions, and seizers. After seeing how slaves were treated, and feeling the pain, Harriet was determined to end slavery and free as many slaves as she could. She believed everyone deserved freedom and independence no matter what the color of their skin was. Her actions were important because she helped show people that we should be treated equally and showed African Americans that there is hope. []

I grew up like a neglected weed -- ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it. Harriet put this hope and determination into action. She made thirteen missions to rescue over seventy slaves using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era struggled for women's suffrage. Her goal was not just to save herself from living this way but to save the other slaves in her position and to give them hope a strength to go on to be whatever they want, not a slave. John brown, was an American abolitionist who was totally against slavery. With the people she saved, Harriet and John put together the raid. Although the raid at Harpers Ferry didn’t turn out as planned (they were defeated) Harriet didn’t loose hope. Harriet saved so many slaves and did it so quietly, there was huge rewards for anyone who found the slaves Harriet saved. []

“I never ran off my track, I never lost a passenger.” This quote was from Harriet Tubman talking about when she is on a mission she never got off track on what she was doing and never left someone behind and made sure everyone was alright. Harriet Tubman guided the 700 and more slaves to Canada and helped them find work. When the American Civil War began, Harriet Tubman first worked as a cook, then a nurse and finally a spy. She was the first women ever to lead an armed expedition. She lead the troops to the Combanee river where at battle freed another 700 slaves. After the war, she headed home to nurse her aging parents. She was still part of the Women’s Suffrage Movement until illness overtook her and she was sent to an African American elderly home where she died on March 10, 1913. The impact that she made was that she saved thousands of slaves and she never left someone behind. She risked her life for others. She opened doors for thousands of African Americans like being the first women to lead an army and opening an elderly home. Her dedication to people really made a difference in their lives and made them want to help others. []


 * // “I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.” //**

I think that when Harriet Tubman looked at all her accomplishments and achievements, she realized that there is hope for African Americans, and many more accomplishments and goals that are yet to come. I think that Harriet had a plan and a dream, to end slavery and help slaves but never really thought that she would actually be able to do so much more. She definitely believed in herself and knew she could end slavery but she didn’t think that in that process she would be able to lead an army or open an elderly home. Harriet saw that when you go for your goals and dreams, to never give up because you will reach the top and accomplish whatever you put your mind to. When you give up, you will never see what a difference you can make and you will never see anything but average dreams and goals. If you aim for accomplishing big dreams, above average dreams, you will accomplish average dreams, little dreams, and your big dreams. She taught others, including me to be strong, get up from the fall, believe in your self and accomplish your goals.


 * // “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” //**

Harriet Tubman gave African Americans hope, strength and determination to never back down. She told them, listen, if you fall down or get knocked down, get right back up and keep walking. If you believe that you can make a difference go for it, don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. This is something she learned and saw, she saw that there is always going to be struggles along the way but don’t let them stop you from getting to the top. As you can see, Harriet did all she could do until her death on. She was put through every obstacle. She was beaten by her masters and left with serious head trauma. That didn’t stop Harriet, it made her stronger and made her want to accomplish new goals she didn’t have in mind. Also, if Harriet hadn’t helped to end slavery we could still be having segregation and racism or it would of taken a long time to end it. Other African Americans after the ones living in that time period didn’t have to deal with how harsh slavery was. The wisdom whispered in my ear from Harriet has made me realize that even when obstacles come into your life, don’t let them make you crumble and never give up.