We honor our namesake every day as we support individuals, youth, and families as they move from fear to freedom, and a life free of violence. However, March 10 is a special day to recognize Harriet Tubman and all of her work that inspires us to continually drive the need for systems change work. Read more below about Harriet Tubman, her courageous journey, and why we are named after her.
Harriet Tubman Day
In honor of the anti-slavery activist, Harriet Tubman, March 10 is an American holiday to recognize and remember the brave woman who fought for freedom and the abolishment of slavery. Harriet Tubman Day was constituted as a national holiday by the United States Congress in 1990 to celebrate the long and heroic work accomplished by Harriet Tubman. Since 1990, Harriet Tubman Day is celebrated annually on March 10 throughout the United States.
About Harriet Tubman
In March of 1822, Harriet Tubman was born into slavery and worked her way to freedom in 1849 where she escaped to Philadelphia to take action in the Abolitionist Movement. During this time, Tubman connected with William Still, a "conductor," who leads journeys to freedom, on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a sanctuary for freedom seekers and provided safehouses for abolitionists. Tubman became a conductor and from 1850 - 1860, she led 70 individuals to freedom.
In April 1861, the American Civil War broke out. Harriet Tubman became a scout in 1863 and organized a group of enslaved spies that she recruited to help set up the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina that aimed to rescue freed slaves. The raid ended up freeing around 750 enslaved people. Later in life, Tubman fought in the Women's Suffrage Movement for the women's right to vote. On March 10, 1913, Harriet Tubman passed away from pneumonia, but would forever be known as the woman who led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom.
Honoring Our Namesake
Our organization is named after Harriet Tubman to recognize that our work to end violence must also include a focus on equity, intersectionality, and ending the systemic racism that harms and devalues Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Since our beginning in the 1970s, we have served communities and clients who have experienced systemic racism, historical trauma, and gender discrimination, making it difficult to trust systems intended to serve them. Tubman continues the work of our namesake by leading the way to hope and honoring Harriet’s motto to “keep going” and "lead people to safety." Tubman remains committed to this work as it is fundamental to our mission of safety, hope, and healing for everyone.
