Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Tubman is the protagonist of Petry’s biography, and it’s little wonder why: over 100 years after her death, she is still lauded for her skill and bravery in escaping from slavery and helping over 300 other Black Americans do the same. In Petry’s biography, we learn that Harriet is born to enslaved parents, Benjamin Ross and Harriet Greene, on the Brodas plantation in Maryland. Growing up on the plantation, Harriet soon learns to fear white authority figures such as the overseer and the plantation owner and enjoys moments of leisure, time with her family, and simple pleasures such as new clothes and food. While Harriet’s parents want her to learn a skill such as weaving or cooking so she can work inside, she feels more suited to working in the fields, despite the hard physical labor required. Harriet feels a sense of freedom in nature. She learns a great deal about the landscape from her father, Benjamin, an expert at felling trees, foraging for medicinal and edible plants, and pathfinding.

Petry’s depiction of Harriet shows her unusual courage and steadfast determination to experience freedom and help others do the same. By beginning her story with Harriet’s infancy and sharing details of her childhood struggles against cruel bosses, Petry demonstrates her desire for independence and bravery in the face of constant abuse. Harriet not only resisted her masters for her own sake, but she was also protective of other slaves. For example, she helped another slave escape from the overseer, who inflicted her with a serious head injury.

She also took great risks to try to rescue her husband and brothers from their plantation since they lacked the incentive or willpower to escape on their own and reach a better life in the North. Harriet is portrayed as a skilled and single-minded individual who was immensely loyal to her family and faith and the enslaved Black American community generally.

Harriet’s legacy continues to reach many; she was recently the subject of the film Harriet starring Cynthia Erivo, and she will soon be featured on US currency.

Harriet Greene, or Old Rit, is Harriet Tubman’s mother. Old Rit is a key figure in her daughter’s life. Even though she is too busy working to supervise Harriet as a child, she shows a consistent interest in her welfare and is protective of her. Indeed, Harriet may have suffered far worse health outcomes or lost her life entirely without her mother’s knowledge of traditional medicine and doting care. When Harriet falls ill as a child, Old Rit nurses her back to health. She also helps her survive the traumatic head injury she suffers as a youth. While Harriet spends years apart from her parents, their close bond is evident since she thinks of them often and longs to rescue them. Eventually, she successfully takes them on the Underground Railroad and buys them a house in New York state.

In Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad, Old Rit also represents a certain worldview within her community of enslaved people. She wants her family to be free but is uncomfortable with discussions about insurrections or the thought of running away. Petry claims that Greene’s fear of change and punishment was typical for many enslaved people at the time and contributes to her complicated relationship with thoughts of pursuing freedom and trying to maintain a sense of safety and stability.