Hundred Years of Black History Month — a Tribute to Harriet Tubman
February 1st marks the beginning of black history month in the United States.
Black History Month 2026 marks a historic milestone — the 100th anniversary of the first Negro History Week, established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The 2026 theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” honors 100 years of celebrating Black history, recognizing its evolution into a global movement that highlights achievements, resilience, and contributions to society.
In 1925, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson planned the inaugural week-long observance of Black history, he could hardly have anticipated the imprint he would leave on the world.
As part of the global African diaspora, people of African descent in the United States have viewed their role in history as critical to their own development and that of the world. Along with writing Black histories, antebellum Black scholars north of slavery started observing the milestones in the struggle of people of African descent to gain their freedom and equality. Revealing their connection to the diaspora, they commemorated the Haitian Revolution, the end of the slave trade, and the end of slavery in Jamaica. They observed American emancipation with Watch Night, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth celebrations. Eventually they feted the lives of individuals who fought against slavery, most notably Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The scholar Arthur A. Schomburg captured the motivation of Black people to dig up their own history and present it to the world: “The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future.”
As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor Harriet Tubman the fearless conductor of the Underground Railroad. Tubman was the first woman to lead an armed military operation, liberating over 700 people in South Carolina. Tubman’s courage and relentless pursuit of justice cement her as one of America’s greatest heroes. #NationalBlackHistoryMonth.
How is that we are still talking about a woman who was born into slavery more than 200 years ago, lived with a disability from a traumatic brain injury, and never had the opportunity as a child to learn to read or write? It’s because the woman was Harriet Tubman. She led a remarkable life of strength in the midst of suffering, courage in the midst of life-threatening situations, and selflessness in a cruel world.
Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913) was a fearless abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, and Civil War spy who liberated dozens of enslaved people. As a renowned figure for Black History Month, she is celebrated for her unmatched bravery, becoming the first woman to lead an armed U.S. military raid and her lifelong fight for justice and women’s suffrage.
“I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger” — Harriet Tubman
Araminta Ross was born to Harriet “Rit” Green and Benjamin Ross, who affectionately called her ‘Minty’.
The couple had nine children, but the institution of slavery often tore the family apart. Despite this common occurrence, Araminta’s mother desperately tried to keep her family together. In honor of her mother’s relentless efforts, Araminta changed her name to Harriet. Harriet Tubman would become an abolitionist, a conductor of the underground. Railroad a women’s suffrage supporter, a union spy, and one of the most well-known black figures of United States history.
She grew up working on a plantation and endured brutal treatment, including being whipped and beaten. When she was around 27 years old, Tubman escaped from slavery with the help of the Underground Railroad, a network of anti-slavery activists and safe houses that helped slaves escape to freedom.
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After her escape, Tubman became a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, leading around 13 missions to rescue over 70 enslaved people. She made dangerous journeys back to Maryland to rescue family members and friends, as well as strangers who were seeking freedom. Tubman became known as “Moses” to those she helped, because of her leadership and the way she led people to safety.
During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse, cook, and spy for the Union Army. She also led a raid on plantations in South Carolina, freeing over 700 slaves. She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the war.
After the war, Tubman settled in Auburn, New York, where she continued to advocate for women’s suffrage and civil rights. She also established the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, a home for elderly African Americans who were poor and/or disabled. Tubman lived there herself until her death in 1913.
Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy continue to inspire people today. She is widely recognised as an American hero and a symbol of courage, strength, and determination in the face of adversity. In 2020, the US Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman will be the new face of the $20 bill, replacing Andrew Jackson.
In April 1861, the American Civil War broke out over the issue of slavery. Tubman saw an opportunity to get involved, enlisting in the Union (Northern) Army as a nurse where she cared for wounded soldiers with natural remedies. In 1863, Tubman took on the role of a scout and organized a group of spies. She recruited enslaved people interested in assisting the Union. Tubman helped Colonel James Montgomery coordinate the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, which aimed to “harass whites and rescue freed slaves”. The raid was wildly successful with Montgomery’s troops burning down many plantations and freeing approximately 750 enslaved people. With their newfound freedom, many of the formerly enslaved men opted to join the Union’s fight against the Confederacy (the South). 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.
In the years after her death in 1913, Harriet became a feminist icon for Black women’s organizations, and Black women artists including Betye Sarr, Alison Saar, Bisa Butler, Faith Ringgold and Elizabeth Catlett saw in Harriet the inspiration for the courage and creativity to document the struggle for equality as Black and as women. A pioneer in what it means to be regarded as an icon, Harriet Tubman served as a physical manifestation of liberation for many. On the bicentennial of her birth, this dynamic woman of many trades continues to be revered as an American hero and a symbol of freedom.
A staunch supporter of the suffrage movement, Tubman worked alongside various upstate-NY based suffragists. The interests of abolitionists were aligned closely with those of suffragists, with both movements concerned with autonomy and freedom. Later in life, Tubman attended various women’s rights conferences. She also collaborated with the AME Zion Church, helping them raise money to build their church in Auburn. As collaborative partners, the church then supported Tubman’s dream of making the Home for the Aged a reality.
Nelson Davis passed away in 1888. In his absence, Tubman continued to dedicate her final 25 years to philanthropic efforts. In 1913, at the age of 91, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in the Home for the Aged & Indigent Negroes. In her final words, Tubman called upon her faith and made reference to John 14:3 in the Bible. She stated, “I go away to prepare a place for you, that where I am you also may be”. She was laid to rest in the Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) in 2026, Black History Month celebrations are highlighting foundational figures like Harriet Tubman, whose life embodied the struggle for the American promise of liberty. Tubman is recognized not just as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, but as an American hero, spy, and freedom fighter whose actions in the 19th century helped define the nation’s 250-year journey toward equality.
Of service to her community until the very end, Harriet Tubman’s legacy remains relevant. In 2024, the United States Mint launched the 2024 Harriet Tubman commemorative coin program. On Veteran’s Day that same year, the Governor of Maryland recognized Tubman as “one of the greatest authors of the American story” and posthumously named Tubman a one-star brigadier general and continued discussions about and homages to Tubman stems from her powerful narrative of taking control of her own destiny and ultimately forging a path for others. She is celebrated not only for the hundreds of enslaved that she freed over the course of her lifetime, but for all of those who still look to her story for guidance. Just as she looked to the North Star to carry her to freedom, her work and values remain a guiding light for many to continue onward–no matter how harrowing the path ahead.
Uma Sriram
#BlackHistoryMonth #HarrietTubman #HistoryOfSlavery #BlackLivesMatter
