Harriet Tubman’s story as the conductor of the Underground Railroad has been told and retold. But this particular Christmas tale isn’t just hers; it’s also ours.
Tubman came from a prominent family of enslavers. In 1854, Three of her four brothers were in bondage in the South. Word had reached her in the North that her brothers’ enslaver was planning on selling them off to different plantations after Christmas. Tubman wasn’t about to let that happen.
A tactician at helping the enslaved flee to freedom, Tubman was able to lead not only her three brothers but also her youngest brother’s fiancée and two other men to freedom in Philadelphia on Christmas Eve. Christmas escapes were risky but also relatively common.
It turns out that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were the best days to try to make a run for freedom. Many enslaved people took advantage of the relaxed schedules, holiday passes, and distracted enslavers to escape.
The Christmas holiday is more than just food, gifts, and spiritual significance. For our ancestors, it was auspicious for one massively important reason: it was a chance at freedom. What present could be better than that? This is something to be mindful of as we celebrate this year.