Araminta Ross (Harriet Tubman) was born enslaved in 1822 in Maryland's Eastern shore in Dorchester County. Harriet Tubman’s parents, Harriet “Rit” (mother) and Ben Ross (father), had nine children. As a child, Tubman did not have the opportunity to spend time with her family. She was separated from her father when her slaveholder, Edward Brodess, moved only Tubman, her mother and siblings to his farm in Bucktown. Also, three of her older sisters were sold into slavery in the Deep South. By age six she was separated from her mother when she was rented out and forced to work for other masters to care for their children, and catch and trap muskrats in the Little Blackwater River. Tubman remembered the emotional pain being separated from her family, which she never wanted to experience again.
In March of 1849, Tubman’s enslaver, Edward Brodess, died. Tubman knew that in order for Brodess’s wife to pay her husband’s debts, she needed to sell some of her slaves. Tubman did not want to be sold away from her family and into the even more brutal conditions of slavery in the deep South. In the fall of 1849, she escaped from slavery alone, and found freedom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, Tubman made connections and found support among other black and white abolitionists. Although Harriet Tubman found her freedom, she was separated from her family. Between 1850 and 1860, Tubman returned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland 13 times and freed more than 70 family and friends so that they could be free together.
Tubman’s work as a liberator continued into the Civil War (1861-1865). Before the war started, Tubman caught the attention of several white politicians because of her contacts with well-known black and white abolitionists in the North. Massachusetts Governor, John Andrew, heard of Tubman’s successes freeing slaves on the Underground Railroad out of Maryland, and taking them North into Philadelphia and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Andrew believed the knowledge and skills that Tubman gained traveling the marshlands in Maryland’s Eastern Shore would be useful in the marshlands on the coastal region of South Carolina, since the two landscapes were similar.
Tubman arrived in Port Royal, South Carolina in 1862 to help Union generals recruit black troops, serve as a Union spy, and nurse wounded soldiers. Perhaps her most dramatic effort to weaken the Confederacy came on June 1, 1863, when she planned and led an armed raid along the Combahee River, becoming the first woman to do so in U.S. military history. Tubman, Colonel James Montgomery, and the 2nd Carolina Colored Infantry burned several plantations, destroyed Confederate supply lines, and freed more than 750 people from slavery.
In 1859, Harriet Tubman bought a house in Auburn, New York from Senator William H. Seward to serve as a home for her family. After the war, women and African Americans continued their fight for equality and voting rights. Tubman became a co-founding member of the National Association of Colored Women that demanded equality and suffrage for African American women. After 1869, Harriet married Civil War veteran Nelson Davis, and they adopted their daugher Gertie. On March 10, 1913, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia and was buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.
Throughout her life, Harriet Tubman was a fighter. Tubman’s legacy continues in society years after her death. During World War II a ship was named in her honor. Aburi, Ghana features a statue of Tubman, and her image appeared on U.S. postage stamps. She is scheduled to appear on the new twenty dollar bill in the year 2020. Tubman’s story speaks compassion and courage that continue to touch the lives of people.
Horton, Lois E, .
Larson, Kate Clifford, .
Larson, Kate Clifford,
Learn more about Harriet Tubman's life in Auburn, New York from our sister park.
Last updated: October 12, 2022
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By Sen. Cory V. McCray
Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.” His words resonate deeply today, particularly when we reflect on how often Black women have been left out of the historical narrative. Despite their enormous contributions, women like Harriet Tubman, Maggie Lena Walker—the first African-American woman to charter a bank in the United States—and so many others have often been sidelined in history books, overshadowed by their male counterparts. This erasure has had profound consequences on how we remember our past and who we honor in our present.
In recent years, states have passed laws that censor or limit the teaching of Black history in schools. Framed as curriculum reform or anti-divisive measures, these laws do far more than adjust content—they distort history. Even locally, we see attempts to revise African-American studies, such as the recent effort in Harford County, Md., to remove critical parts of African-American history from the curriculum. By reducing or erasing the contributions of Black Americans, and particularly Black women, from textbooks and classrooms, this sanitization deprives future generations of a complete American history—one that includes the struggles, resilience, innovation and triumphs of women who fought against systemic oppression.
This erasure inspired me to take on a legislative effort initiated by Chanel Compton, executive director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and Del. Shaneka Henson (D-Md.-30A), who asked me to lead the charge in the Maryland State Senate. Together, we sought to honor the legacy of Dorchester County native Harriet Tubman during the 2024 Legislative Session with Senate Bill 341.
Tubman’s name has long been synonymous with Black history and American history. The legislation renames the “Banneker-Douglass Museum” in Annapolis to the “Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.” Just a few blocks from the State House, the museum is dedicated to documenting, interpreting, and promoting African-American history and culture. The change is a deliberate recognition of the profound contributions Tubman made, alongside those of Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, to the fight for freedom, equality and justice in American history.
The debate over including Tubman’s name isn’t new. When the museum opened in 1984, there was extensive discussion about adding her name to the marquee. The fact that her name was omitted underscores the broader issue of Black women’s historical contributions being overlooked. I learned that this conversation spanned over five years, reflecting the persistent challenges in fully acknowledging the role of women in shaping our history. The decision to finally include Tubman’s name is a step toward rectifying that omission and ensuring that future generations understand the full scope of her contributions.
For me, the fight to pass this legislation was made meaningful by the phenomenal women who dedicated their time, voice and advocacy to SB 341. Chanel Compton, whose leadership in initiating the bill was instrumental, and Maya Davis, vice chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, both played critical roles in this journey. It was an honor to have them by my side as we testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Through the efforts of Chairman Brian Feldman (D-Md.-15) and Vice Chair Cheryl Kagan (D-Md.-17), the committee voted the legislation out immediately after their compelling words, delivered on the first day of Black History Month, which highlighted Tubman’s leadership during the Civil War and her freeing of 700 enslaved people.
On the House side, Del. Henson, of Anne Arundel County, cross-filed the legislation as House Bill 390, working tirelessly to ensure its passage. The bill was ultimately signed by Gov. Moore on April 9. Including Tubman’s name invites us to remember the full scope of her contributions—just as schools should strive to present a comprehensive history that includes all voices, especially those often marginalized. Both museums and schools serve as custodians of the collective memory. The decision to include Tubman’s name in the museum reflects the same responsibility we bear in our educational curricula. What stories do we highlight? Whose contributions do we emphasize?
In the end, what’s in a name? Everything. It’s our past and our future. It’s our history, identity, and commitment to telling the whole story. By honoring Harriet Tubman with this renaming, we are celebrating her incredible life and making a statement about who we are and who we strive to be—a nation that acknowledges and learns from its full history. Because if we don’t know where we’ve come from, how can we ever know where we’re going?
More by Cory McCray
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
The MY FIRST BIOGRAPHY series brings the biggest life stories to the smallest readers. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery. She vowed she would fight to free all slaves. Her perseverance sparked Americans to stand up for equality. With simple, lyrical text and bold, kid-friendly illustrations, this book introduces Harriet Tubman to the youngest ...
Harriet Tubman (born c. 1820, Dorchester county, Maryland, U.S.—died March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York) was an American bondwoman who escaped from slavery in the South to become a leading abolitionist before the American Civil War.She led dozens of enslaved people to freedom in the North along the route of the Underground Railroad—an elaborate secret network of safe houses organized for ...
To date, Tubman is recognized as the first woman in US history to both plan and lead a military raid. In June 2021, the Army inducted her into the Military Intelligence Corps (Lacdan 2023). Tubman is seen posing for a portrait sometime between 1871 and 1876, expression neutral while she rests her hands on a chair.
Harriet Tubman was born around 1820 on a plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her parents, Harriet ("Rit") Green and Benjamin Ross, named her Araminta Ross and called her "Minty ...
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, c. March 1822 [1] - March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. [2] [3] After escaping slavery, Tubman made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including her family and friends, [4] using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known collectively as the Underground Railroad.
Life, Liberty and Legacy. Harriet Tubman has been known by many names—Araminta, Moses, conductor, daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt. All encompass the intersecting identities and experiences that Harriet Tubman encompassed over her lifespan. In March 2022, on the bicentennial of her birth, we look beyond these names to capture not only ...
A more recent adaptation of Tubman's life was the 2019 movie Harriet, starring Cynthia Erivo as Tubman. The film chronicled Tubman's life from her first marriage through her service freeing ...
After escaping slavery on her own in 1849, Harriet Tubman helped others journey on the Underground Railroad. From 1850 to 1860 she made an estimated 13 trips and rescued around 70 enslaved people ...
The MY FIRST BIOGRAPHY series brings the biggest life stories to the smallest readers. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery. She vowed she would fight to free all slaves. Her perseverance sparked Americans to stand up for equality. With simple, lyrical text and bold, kid-friendly illustrations, this book introduces Harriet Tubman to the youngest readers and inspires them to fight for freedom.
New-York Historical Society, Purchase. Harriet Tubman was born around the year 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her parents named her Araminta Ross. Her mother, Harriet Green, was an enslaved woman owned by Mary Pattinson Brodess. Her father, Ben Ross, was an enslaved man owned by Anthony Thompson. They were brought together when Mary and ...
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was an escaped slave who became a leading figure in the abolitionist movement. Harriet Tubman also served as a spy for the US army during the civil war and was an active participant in the struggle for women's suffrage. Tubman was born Araminta Ross, to slave parents who lived on plantations in Maryland.
Updated on July 28, 2019. Harriet Tubman (c. 1820-March 10, 1913) was an enslaved woman, freedom seeker, Underground Railroad conductor, North American 19th-century Black activist, spy, soldier, and nurse known for her service during the Civil War and her advocacy of civil rights and women's suffrage. Tubman remains one of history's most ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2016. This is a great little book to introduce little kids to an American hero, Harriet Tubman. This is my son's first book about history (he's 28 months). He likes it and requests it from time to time, although it's not a super favorite. As I read to him, I embellished a little bit to help him ...
This board book version of Harriet Tubman —from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series—follows the incredible life of Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad conductor who "never lost a single passenger." Little Harriet was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland. Though life was hard, Harriet persisted. She used all of her strength and bravery to escape slavery ...
The MY FIRST BIOGRAPHY series brings the biggest life stories to the smallest readers. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery. She vowed she would fight to free all slaves. Her perseverance sparked Americans to stand up for equality. With simple, lyrical text and bold, kid-friendly illustrations, this book introduces Harriet Tubman to the youngest ...
Resource Bank Contents. Harriet Tubman is perhaps the most well-known of all the Underground Railroad's "conductors." During a ten-year span she made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 ...
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery therefore no records of her birth were kept and the exact date of her birth is unknown. She believed she was born in 1825. She testified to this date in a pension application in 1890 when she claimed she was 67 and in 1892 when she claimed she was 67 years old. In both instances the year 1825 was consistent.
After 1869, Harriet married Civil War veteran Nelson Davis, and they adopted their daugher Gertie. On March 10, 1913, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia and was buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn. Throughout her life, Harriet Tubman was a fighter. Tubman's legacy continues in society years after her death.
Please support the author by purchasing the book here:http://amzn.to/2tA1ZDeA My First Biography, this book introduces Harriet Tubman to young readers and in...
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland. Historians think she was born in 1820, or possibly 1821, but birth records weren't kept by most enslavers. Her birth name was Araminta Ross, but she took the name of her mother, Harriet, when she was thirteen. Life as an enslaved person was difficult.
This book provides outstanding biographies of the female luminaries of the Civil War, such as Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, and Dr. Mary Walker, while also introducing readers to lesser-known women who made an impact during the great sectional conflict. Beautifully written and full of rare photographs, Women of the Civil War is captivating.
Harriet Tubman's birthplace is in Dorchester County, Maryland. Araminta Ross, the daughter of Benjamin (Ben) and Harriet ... "National historical park considered for Tubman". My Eastern Shore Maryland Harriet Tubman was born enslaved in 1822 in Dorchester County... the Anthony Thompson home site at Peters Neck, where Tubman was probably born. ...
Despite their enormous contributions, women like Harriet Tubman, Maggie Lena Walker—the first African-American woman to charter a bank in the United States—and so many others have often been ...