Harriet Tubman

A portrait of Harriet Tubman (google images (Joe Carter))

"I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land."(Harriet Tubman) Harriet Tubman strived to help other people. There were many points in Harriet's life where she could have given up, but didn't. She was an inspiration to many, because she took action and fought for what she believed was right, despite what others thought. Harriet Tubman was a fugitive slave who escaped from slavery and risked her life to help other slaves gain their freedom. Harriet escaped from slavery in 1849, but soon returned to the plantation to lead many other slaves to their freedom, as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad but a network specifically for that. A hero should stand up for what they believe in, regardless of what others think. They should also be courageous and brave. Being brave means taking action and acting on the situation. Harriet is a hero because of how courageous she was. When times were tough, she didn't give up. She stayed strong and brave for the sake of the others each time she returned. Another quality that makes Harriet a hero is how caring and compassionate she was. She helped others who had very little, even though, she herself had very little.

Harriet Tubman leading slaves to freedom. ( (google images))

Harriet did many things that were worthy of the "hero" title. "While still a young woman she embarked on a perilous journey of self-liberation-and then, having won her own freedom, she returned again and again to liberate much beloved family and friends, tapping into the Underground Railroad"(Welcome). This text portrays Harriet as the courageous and brave woman she was. She put others before herself and sacrificed a lot to help slaves. She put herself in great danger while trying to help secure freedom for many. She showed kindness and compassion each time she returned for slaves. Once she gained her freedom she could have rested, instead she took matters into her own hands and constructed a plan to rescue other slaves and lead them to safety. Tubman acted as if the Underground Railroad was her first priority. She didn't care that the trips she made put her life at risk. Harriet did what she had to do to keep the slaves safe. Those being rescued put their faith in Harriet and were counting on her. "Two things sustained her: the pistol at her side and her faith in God. She would not hesitate to use the pistol in self-defense, but it was also a symbol to instruct slaves...Timid slaves seemed to find courage in her presence; no one ever betrayed her" (History). When times were tough she still stayed strong for the sake of everyone. She did what she had to do to bring slaves to safety. Harriet showed how deeply she cared for others when she put her life at risk during the many trips to slave countries, to retrieve slaves and help gain their freedom. Harriet overall put others before herself and did everything she could to ensure that the slaves were rescued and brought to their freedom.

Harriet also displayed heroism when she took action and stood for what is right. Harriet was not afraid to speak out, even though people would stand against her. "Here too are Tubman's twilight years after the war, when she worked for Civil Rights and women's suffrage, in spite of racist politicians and suffragists who marginalized her contributions"(Welcome). Harriet took action by working for the Civil Rights and Women's Suffrage Movement and standing up for what she believed. Harriet left behind a legacy for women's rights and to this day remains an inspiration to many. Harriet went through a lot as a slave and endured a lot of hardships through her many perils but never once thought she should stop helping others. Many people trusted Harriet and relied on her to help them. When she was working as a conductor in the Underground Railroad. They trusted she would lead them to freedom. "Harriet Tubman is often called the Moses of her people for leading so many of them out of bondage to freedom. She was an abolitionist, an integral part of the Underground Railroad, a humanitarian, and a Union nurse and spy during the American Civil War"(Harriet). Harriet did many things to help many people. She took action when she freed slaves, using the Underground Railroad. This earned her the nickname "Moses". Harriet Tubman did not put up with anything that did not sit well with her. She stood up for slaves and for the Women's Suffrage Movement.

Harriet leading slaves (google images ())

Harriet was a hero, because she always fought for what she believed in and deep down for what she knew was right and what wasn't right. Harriet devoted most of her life to the Underground Railroad, making sure the slaves she went back for made it out safely and were delivered to freedom. After all that Harriet did, she still remained active in the Women's Suffrage Movement and at the end of the Civil War she continued to help the homeless and people in need, despite the fact that she herself had financial troubles. She has inspired women for  decades by actively participating in the Women's Suffrage Movement. This showed others you shouldn't be afraid to do something new and out of your comfort zone, by standing up for something you think is right regardless of what others may think. Harriet was a strong women who believed in voicing her opinion. Although she experienced many difficulties in her lifetime, she could have easily given up, but never did. Especially when she was working as a conductor in the Underground Railroad, people were counting on her. Harriet knew that the lives of the slaves and their freedom depended on her strength and commitment and her belief to never give up. Harriet Tubman has taught me to never give up and to always stand up for what I believe in.