Before She was Harriet
- Mikaela Strahm
- Nov 4, 2019
- 2 min read
By: Lesa Cline-Ransome
"Who was Harriet Tubman before she was Harriet?
We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. As Araminta she was a young girl whose father showed her the stars and the first steps on the path to freedom.
An evocative poem and stunning watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her a larger than life hero.
A lush and lyrical biography of Harriet Tubman, written in verse and illustrated by James Ransome, winner of the Coretta Scott King medal for The Creation."
Awards:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
A Christopher Award winner
A Jane Addams Children's Honor Book
A Booklist "Top of the List" selection
The Civil War was a war between the northern and southern states. Which states fought on which side? On a map, highlight the Union (northern) states in yellow and the Confederate states (southern) in green.
Harriet helped her parents Ben Ross and Harriet “Rit” Green flee from slavery and find safety in Canada. Why was it safe to go to Canada? Using your map from the previous activity, highlight the route in blue that you think Harriet and her parents may have taken to flee from Maryland to Canada.
As a young girl, Harriet learned to read the “woods and the stars at night” from her father. Slaves learned to follow certain signs to make sure they were heading north, such as moss growing on the north side of the tree or the North Star. Write a list of other clues in nature that might have helped guide Harriet from slavery to freedom.
After reading the entire book, write a paragraph that explains the illustration on the cover of the book. What do you think Harriet is seeing and thinking? Explain the signicance of the moon and stars.
Harriet Tubman was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York. Her grave is simply marked with her name. Why do you think she was buried with military honors? Write an appropriate epitaph for her grave.
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