Harriet Tubman Visions of Freedom | Underground Railroad
How Harriet’s Visions Started
This year marks the 200th birthday of Harriet Tubman. And like so many others, I am drawn to her journey. Whenever I have moments of wanting to give up or not feeling good enough, taking time to explore Harriet’s journey to freedom gives me a boost of energy to keep going.
She did the impossible with no roadmap. Then did it again and again for her loved ones with no modern technology and all odds stacked against her.
Harriet Tubman was born in Cambridge, MD. And there you will find living history from her journey. One big piece of her journey is still standing today, the Bucktown Village Store. The store still has the original floor boards that Harriet once stepped on the day that changed her life, and I am thankful to be able to experience it for myself.
One day Harriet’s master sent her to the Bucktown Village Store to retrieve some goods. While in the store, another slave ran into the store trying to escape an overseer.
During my visit to the Bucktown Village Store, the owner shared that the “big house” on the property had evidence of a slave hide away. A secret space equipped with a peep hole to see if someone was coming. This may have been the reason why the other slave sought refuge in the store that day.
The overseer followed the slave into the store, and asked Harriet to help restrain him.
She refused.
The overseer reached for the 2 pound weight sitting on the counter to strike the slave, and hit Harriet across the head in the process.
” ‘The weight stuck me in the head and broke my skull and cut a piece of that shawl clean off and drove it into my head.’ No one called for a doctor. ” – Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
This traumatic day was a near death experience for Harriet.
She survived.
Leaving her with a lifetime of headaches… and visions.
“After her injury, Tubman began experiencing strange visions and vivid dreams, which she ascribed to premonitions from God. These experiences, combined with her Methodist upbringing, led her to become devoutly religious. In 1849, Tubman escaped to Philadelphia, only to return to Maryland to rescue her family soon after.” – Wikipedia
She ran.
Harriet ran for her life with all the odds stacked against her — managing a disability, going against the norms, navigating the terrain. She sought out to do something that had never seen done before. Not just for herself, but for others.
She believed.
Harriet said she received visions and “spells” after her incident that lead her on her path. She believed that those visions came from God, and help her to achieve the impossible.
For me, the lessons I take away from my visit to the Bucktown Village Store and learning more of Harriet’s journey here, is that there will be moments in our life that may feel like the end. However, they may be the defining moments for you to be pushed into your purpose.
Harriet Tubman Obstacles
Moving into a direction that is uncertain and undefined is not pretty. When given a vision and plan, it is often traveled alone in the beginning. It may be painful and feel like you are acting in vain, but trust that if you can see it… It is possible!
I hope this visit inspires you as much as it has inspired you. If you want to experience more Black History Things to Do, you can find it here.
The Bucktown Village Store
Bucktown Village Store: 4303 Bucktown Road Cambridge, MD 21613
The Bucktown Village Store is a part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway tour that you can experience first hand.
For more information about how to schedule a visit, here.
Living Black History
Next, let’s explore the standing slave quarters in Baltimore County, here.
