Tag: Harriet Tubman

Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad, America’s First Civil Rights Movement – Fergus M. Bordewich

On By Genyc79In American History, Civil Rights MovementLeave a comment

The recent celebration of America’s two-hundred fiftieth anniversary was a milestone celebration, but it also gave rise to deep discussions about the nation’s history and what it means to different demographics. The contradictions between the principles the nation was founded on and what transpired are stark and the system of slavery remains a dark chapter in the story. For Black Americans it is a painful reminder of a time when human beings were characterized as chattel and the idea of all men were created equal was not equally applied. The system was doomed and eventually fell. And before the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), Whites, Blacks and Native Americans found ways to liberate slaves from the dehumanizing system of manual labor. In the process, they created a complex network of trails, passageways, safe houses, and clandestine contacts known as the Underground Railroad. This book by author Fergus M. Bordewich dissects the riveting system and how it changed history in the United States.

Early last year, I read Catherine Clinton’s ‘Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom‘ which is a fascinating look into Tubman’s extraordinary life. She is well-known as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, but Clinton’s book which covers far more than just her role in liberating the enslaved and activities on behalf of the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865). As expected, she is a part of the story here as well as John Brown (1800-1859), Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) and others with whom I was not familiar. And despite the system’s title, there were times when it was as “underground” as we may think. It was a hybrid system based on covert activity and direct confrontation when necessary. And to make it work, countless men and women put their lives on the line for the sake of humanity.

This book will make some readers uncomfortable due to the subject matter and the frankness with which the history is explained. Today, events which transpire in the book seem surreal, but this was the reality of life in the United States as if expanded and confronted its faults. The issue of slavery has haunted America since its inception, and the glaring contradiction between the nation’s founding principles and the brutal life of slaves was one that politicians struggled to address. In the book, former President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) serves as a case study as both a slave owner and one who saw the evils of slavery. His statements and ideas about slavery and its victims are both interesting and disturbing. However, Jefferson was not the only one to struggle with the demon and throughout the book, the issue of morality takes center stage.

As I read the book, I found myself in awe of the people who are major figures in the story being told. There were several names I was not aware of, and I was speechless as their lives played out. The names of David Ruggles (1810-1849), Levi Coffin (1798-1877), Jonathan Walker (1799-1878) and Seth Concklin (1802-1851) are etched into my memory, and their stories are crucial to the history of the Underground Railroad. Of course, they were assisted by a network of people who believed in the eradication of slavery and freedom for the enslaved. And while there are bright moments in the story, there are dark moments too where abolition failed and slave hunters prevailed, and the fate of those captured remains unknown.

While the “railroad” is known to have assisted enslaved people as they escape to the North, the role of Canada is another interesting aspect of the story. In fact, our northern neighbor played a significant role in the lives of former slaves, a role much larger than I knew of previously. And the story of Canada’s participation cannot be told without including Josiah Henson (1789-1883) whose story is told by the author, and it is nothing short of incredible. His role in assisting former slaves and the creation of the Dawn Settlement are examples of the unwavering spirit within abolitionists committed to their cause. And their stories are revisited beautifully by the author in a book which stirred emotion and adjusted the way I view American history.

The Underground Railroad is a critical part of the nation’s history, yet it is often misunderstood and underrated. What I learned in this book has broadened my perspective on the system and how integral it became to slaves facing life and death situations. Further, the narrative commands a deeper respect for those who risked their lives to help the enslaved, and they came from all levels of society. The beauty in this book is that despite the horrors of human bondage, there is a story of common bonds between people from diverse backgrounds who saw an evil they could not accept. It is textbook example of how we are stronger when united. The subject matter is not “easy”, but it is history and the author tells with the right amount of respect for the deceased, adulation for the heroes and contempt for those who deserve it. And the result is a well-written, well-researched and informative book that fills in the gaps regarding the story of the Underground Railroad. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000WCWV08
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books, March 17, 2009

Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom – Catherine Clinton

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines courage as the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. This definition applies unquestionably to Araminta Ross, better known as Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), whose efforts on what is known as the “Underground Railroad” helped change the fates of enslaved and free blacks across America as the nation grappled with the issue of human bondage. When I saw this book in a list of recommendations, I instantly made the purchase and felt my curiosity increase. In grade school, I learned about Harriet Tubman, but the passage of time and a limited curriculum, left me with a lack of factual information which I found in this gripping biography by author Catherine Clinton.

The lack of knowledge regarding Tubman’s life increased my anticipation as I began to read the book. And from the beginning, I found myself glued to it as I learned about the life of a woman who took courage to a whole new level. Her story begins in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1822 when she is born into an enslaved family. And like other enslaved people, birth records and other vital information are typically incomplete. Added to the confusion is the lack of literacy, a tool commonly used by slaveowners. This afflicted Tubman as well, but it later proved to have its advantages, as we see in the story when her work on the Underground Railroad intensified.

Readers who are sensitive to the subject of slavery and its horrors may find parts of the story upsetting. However, it is a part of American history which can never be erased. Further, the dark moments in the book eventually pave the way for the triumphs later in the story. In 1849, she finally made her escape north, but at the time she was married to her first husband John Tubman (d. 1867). The circumstances surrounding their union are interesting and highlight the complexities enslaved and freed men and women faced in trying to find love. The story of their union is both tragic and shocking, and the author returns to John later in the story after Harriet finds her calling.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 sent alarm bells ringing across America and forced slaves to realize that crossing into free territory was not enough. Harriet understood the implications and began to master the art of subterfuge. But before she changes gears, the story moves to Canada, where Tubman finds solace. However, the country was not without racial prejudice, and the author pulls no punches about the difficulties former slaves faced as they escaped north. For Harriet, her own freedom was not enough, and she became determined to bring down the system of slavery across America, much like her acquaintance and fellow abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859), who makes an appearance in the book. And it is at this point that the legend is born and the story kicks into high gear. Readers will see why she was nicknamed “Moses”.

In Auburn, New York, she was able to make a home for herself due to the actions of former Secretary of State William Seward (1801-1872) who became a lifelong friend. And once she embraced her role as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, things are never the same. The story is unbelievable and the courage she had is nothing short of incredible. Frankly, she was fearless and demonstrated this repeatedly in the story. The author brings her actions to life in a vivid but smooth narrative that maintains the right pace and suspense as former slaves are ushered out of the South in search of life as free men and women. But though Tubman had success in her missions, she did pay a heavy price in the form of personal sacrifice, both physically and emotionally. Her reunion with John later in life does not go as planned and leaves her devastated. But a successful reunion with her parents is a high point in the book which is a roller coaster ride until the very end.

Because the book is set during the 1800s, we know the American Civil War will become a part of the narrative and here is no different. But what is incredibly heartwarming are her actions in service to the Union as the war against the Confederacy raged. The conflict was beyond brutal, and its graphic nature is on display here. Tubman’s view of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is interesting, although the two never met. I wish they had for that would have been quite the discussion. Nevertheless, Lincoln’s death was a shock to her as it was to millions of Americans. The war had ended in April 1865, but the fight for equality and respect was still on. Tubman continued to serve the people and later in life she reaped the benefits, and even finds a new companion Pvt. Nelson C. Davis (1844-1888) who provides her with a sense of normalcy after her days on the Underground Railroad are over. And when she is called home to rest, the conclusion marks the end of a story that left me inspired and speechless. The Underground Railroad was a complex network of locations, resources, and people both black and white who were united in their belief that slavery must end. Harriet Tubman was part of the apparatus that kept it running and on time. This book is a gift that will keep on giving.

“If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going.” – Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FC1AN4
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (February 2, 2004)