WORDS HAVE POWER

By Tina Jackson

First in a series about historical figures who had disabilities

“Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the star.”

Harriet Tubman

When you think of Harriet Tubman you may only remember her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but there much more to know about this American heroine.

One of the United States’ greatest historical heroes was born into slavery around 1820 in a family of nine children. She was born Araminta Harriet Ross, but she later changed her first name to Harriet in 1844. In 1849 she escaped slavery following the ‘Underground Railroad’, a network of safe-houses used by former slaves to escape the South under cover of darkness.

The earliest efforts to help enslaved people escape began with individual acts of kindness and assistance from people like the Quakers, who were among the first organized groups to actively help escapees. In the early 1800s, Quaker abolitionist Isaac T. Hopper set up a network in Philadelphia to aid those on the run. It was used by enslaved African Americans to escape into free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. It became known as the Underground Railroad.

The Railroad took Tubman to Philadelphia. While she could have remained in the safety of the North, Tubman chose to return to the South, guiding hundreds of other fleeing slaves through the Underground Railroad.This extraordinary bravery earned her the nickname Moses like the Biblical character who led the Israelites from Egypt. She did this all while having a disability.

As a slave, she endured violent beatings. On one occasion, at age twelve, she was hit on the head with a heavy object when an overseer was trying to stop another slave from running. The fleeing slave was a friend of Harriet so she stepped between them and was hit in the head resulting in a traumatic head injury.

Historians and medical experts think that Harriet Tubman may have had narcolepsy. After the traumatic brain injury she sustained as a child, Tubman experienced what was described as “sleeping fits” or “sleeping spells” that resembled a trancelike condition. These episodes, along with her severe headaches, have led some to suggest that she might have had narcolepsy. Harriet’s seizures were described as follows: “a sort of stupor or lethargy at times; coming upon her in the midst of conversation, or whatever she may be doing, and throwing her into a deep slumber. Despite these health challenges, she became a fearless leader in the fight for freedom and equality.

She received no medical treatment for this injury and was forced to go back to work almost immediately. The brain damage meant she experienced headaches and pain throughout her life as well as seizures and the possible narcolepsy. Harriet also experienced visions which she described as being sent by God.

She returned to Maryland multiple times to rescue her family and other enslaved people, using the Underground Railroad, along with Fredrick Douglass and Thomas Garrett. During her eight years as a “conductor” on Railroad, she made 70 trips to the south and managed to help free thousands of slaves.

In her later years, Harriet Tubman continued to be an active and influential figure. After the Civil War, she retired to her home in Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents and established a home for elderly African Americans. She was also involved in the women’s suffrage movement with Susan B. Anthony, traveling the country and giving speeches for Tubman advocating for the right to vote for women. She remained dedicated to helping others and used her resources to support various charitable causes.

Harriet Tubman passed away in 1913 at the age of 90 or 91. She died at her home in Auburn, New York, and was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery there. Tubman’s legacy as a courageous leader and humanitarian continues to inspire people today.