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Original poster

Have you heard of Harriet Tubman?

108 replies

Pickles89 · 26/01/2021 16:59

It's in the news that she's going to be on $20 bills. I'm ashamed to say I've only just learned about her! I knew the name from an American picture book I had when I was little, but all I knew was that she 'helped to free the slaves'. Then at Christmas just gone I watched the film 'Harriet' (I recommend it!) and although I don't know how much of the movie was artistic license, the facts of her story I know to be true are amazing.

Do you know about her? If so, how? Were you taught at school?

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 26/01/2021 19:13

its as an avid watcher of several real housewives and also the kardashians I sometimes start saying something and then realise I’ve got to carry on with where and who I’m talking about. I front it out but sometimes wish I’d hadn’t started.
‘dance moms’ though bloody hell ! Grin

Kljnmw3459 · 26/01/2021 19:16

I only heard about her from a sketch on an American sitcom and then some further details from Instagram posts.

itsgettingweird · 26/01/2021 19:28

@HeronLanyon

its as an avid watcher of several real housewives and also the kardashians I sometimes start saying something and then realise I’ve got to carry on with where and who I’m talking about. I front it out but sometimes wish I’d hadn’t started. ‘dance moms’ though bloody hell ! Grin
🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've no defence other than as an ex dancer and student dance teacher I enjoyed watching (and critiquing) the dancers!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

History
HeronLanyon · 26/01/2021 19:30

Oh well you’ve got full defence. Sorry to have doubted you.
Damn, and I admitted everything . .

CormoranStrike · 26/01/2021 19:32

Yes, I know of her - first heard of her in the fabulous song Underground Railroad.

endofthelinefinally · 26/01/2021 19:33

Yes. Amazing, brave woman.
I am one of those old women who values reading history books. Something that seems to be rare these days.

Countdowntonothing · 26/01/2021 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hailtomyteeth · 26/01/2021 19:37

Yes. I taught religious education. We had to cover all sorts of stuff.

HeronLanyon · 26/01/2021 19:37

There a good episode of the Stuff You Should Know podcast from Feb 2018 all about her.

itsgettingweird · 26/01/2021 19:38

@HeronLanyon

Oh well you’ve got full defence. Sorry to have doubted you. Damn, and I admitted everything . .
Grin
unlimiteddilutingjuice · 26/01/2021 19:43

I knew about her.

DS once asked me if Harriet was "scared of all the vampires"
He was confusing Pensilvannia and Transilvannia

Soontobe60 · 26/01/2021 19:57

@Pickles89

It's in the news that she's going to be on $20 bills. I'm ashamed to say I've only just learned about her! I knew the name from an American picture book I had when I was little, but all I knew was that she 'helped to free the slaves'. Then at Christmas just gone I watched the film 'Harriet' (I recommend it!) and although I don't know how much of the movie was artistic license, the facts of her story I know to be true are amazing.

Do you know about her? If so, how? Were you taught at school?

I teach about her when its Black History month. Have done for many years, but its only recently that her name has become more widely known.
grapewine · 26/01/2021 20:03

@unlimiteddilutingjuice

I knew about her.

DS once asked me if Harriet was "scared of all the vampires"
He was confusing Pensilvannia and Transilvannia

This is cute 😊
jiggetyjig · 26/01/2021 20:11

Yes I've heard of her.
I can't remember where or how I first heard her name,but I did some research and was fascinated by her story.

TheSockMonster · 26/01/2021 20:13

I thought no, but when I googled her I realised I knew her story but not her name.

It’s great that her name and story is now going to be known more widely.

Flamingolingo · 26/01/2021 20:14

Yes, from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air of all places!

MissingLinker · 26/01/2021 20:16

Yes, couldn't say where I know about her from, though. Definitely didn't learn about her in school.

JaninaDuszejko · 26/01/2021 20:31

I've just been reading a book about how quilts were made which contained hidden codes to guide escaping slaves along the underground railroad which was fascinating

I think this is an urban myth.

I did know about Harriet Tubman but only in the last few years. Probably a google doodle.

But since this is a British site, how many here know about "Ivory Bangle Woman' or the black Roman regiments on Hadrian's wall, John Blanke, Dido Elizabeth Belle, Ignatius Sancho, Olaudah Equiano, Phillis Wheatley, Sara Bonetta Forbes, or Marcus Garvey? Our black history is much longer and more complex than Americas and while it is useful to teach the history of other countries I do worry my DC have learnt about more black Americans than black Brits at school.

Veterinari · 26/01/2021 20:42

Thank you @Pickles89
I just watched Harriet

Cynthia Erivo is wonderful
Great film

OhTheTastyNuts · 26/01/2021 21:03

I didn't learn about her at school, but I watched a BBC True Stories episode about her with my DC during the first lockdown. They loved it!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p015gp0z

birdseeder · 26/01/2021 21:06

Another podcast recc "The History Chicks" have a good episode on her

LaPoesieEstDansLaRue · 26/01/2021 22:18

Yes but don't know much about her. I have a (slightly embarrassing) feeling I may have heard of her first in a Horrible Histories sketch.

Figgygal · 26/01/2021 22:21

I know about her but don’t know where from
My 9yo learned about her In school last year
We have Harriet downloaded to watch at some point

Scarby9 · 26/01/2021 22:28

We teach about her in primary school.

StillWeRise · 26/01/2021 22:40

yes!
there's a great song about her too...