Comments on: Original ABWs: Harriet Tubman

By: canek

canek — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:59:11 +0000

I used to teach at an elementary school in Harlem. I came across this book of Harriet Tubman with one of my students, Abu. Abu was a briliant nine year old of Mali heritage. I don’t like to show favoritism with my students… but he was exceptionally brilliant.

Abu asked with surprise, “why does Harriet Tubman have a gun?”

I answered, “because she was an outlaw. She was breaking the law by helping slaves escape and there were people who wanted to arrest her or kill her. She needed to defend herself.”

I think this cover art does a great job of dispelling the stereotypical image we know of Mrs. Tubman as a frail woman in her old age.

By: Quercki

Quercki — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:45:25 +0000

The lesson about anger is a really important one–I wish I’d learned it.

By: Quercki

Quercki — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:39:36 +0000

Everybody needs WOC role models. (Although I’m glad the civil rights act gave me G.W. Carver for one of my role models.)

In my children’s school, the kindergartners make dioramas of role models for Black History month. They are given a handout with one-paragraph bios to help them. When my first child brought it home, I pointed out that women were under-represented. (2 out of 14) I think I directed the teacher to “I Dream a World.” (fabulous book, highly recommended, too advanced for kindergartners.)

Three years later, I again reminded the teachers that half of all African-Americans are women, and this assignment needed to be improved. I bought her the book.

Two years later (last kid) the handout had been revised to include an equal number of women and men.

By: Hippodameia

Hippodameia — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:25:39 +0000

I read petry’s book about Tubman in third grade, and it really did change my life.

By: InfamousQBert

InfamousQBert — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:16:55 +0000

i’m not a woc, but i definitely relate to the lessons you learned there. bravo on your parents for giving you those books so early, and bravo to you for learning the lessons so well.

By: Elaran

Elaran — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:57:35 +0000

I read about Harriet Tubman in an old English textbook. Her story was one of the passages we had to do comprehension etc on and I found her story so interesting and inspirational.

because she did what I in my bravado like to think I would’ve done: she fought back. And she won.
Yes, her story was one of others who made me realise that the person who saves the day, makes the stand, does something so incredibly important and significant was not always male.

By: deborah

deborah — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:50:17 +0000

I love that cover you've linked. That's got to be by Leo and Diane Dillon, right? (Who, now that I think of it, also illustrated Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.)

By: Serene

Serene — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:44:30 +0000

Oh, god, I loved Harriet Tubman so much when I was little. Her stories really instilled in me the belief that human beings can push past fear and oppression and do really difficult things, at great costs to themselves, to make the world better. She’s still who I think of when I am talking myself into enduring something difficult that needs enduring.

By: Jezebella

Jezebella — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:31:37 +0000

BTW, there is a Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon,GA, and a Harriet Tubman Home Museum in Auburn, NY. Both fine institutions, worth visiting if you find yourself nearby.

By: Martha

Martha — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:13:20 +0000

I knew there was more to the world than Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. I Knew it!!!

(Hi Nina!!)