“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; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me.” ― A passage from Sarah Bradford’s book, Harriet, The Moses of Her People, published in 1886
42 years ago this Saturday, Harriet Tubman became the first African-American woman featured on a U.S. postage stamp. This honor paid tribute to her fearless pursuit of freedom for others. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman guided scores of enslaved people to freedom, risking her own life in the process. In celebration of this anniversary and her life, this week we honor Harriet Tubman.
“Harriet Tubman” read by Maya Angelou
A short biography of Harriet Tubman
The earliest known photograph of Harriet Tubman, from the Library of Congress
“1978 Black Heritage Series: Harriet Tubman Issue”
“Haiku and Tanka for Harriet Tubman” by Sonia Sanchez
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway
“Harriet Tubman Quilt” crafted by Sheila Frampton-Cooper and Blake Chamberlain
“Harriet Tubman” by Eloise Greenfield
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park
“Rediscovering the Story of Harriet Truman” and the podcast “Following Harriet”
@ Alabama Chanin
Registration is now open for the 2020 Project Threadways Symposium, taking place from April 16 – 18 at The Factory. Join us for an inspiring series of events surrounding textiles, time, and place.
Take a virtual tour of The Factory.
Lead image of Harriet Tubman from the Library of Congress.