Have you heard of Harriet Tubman?

[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 only know about her from references in American TV shows (like Blackish, which is hilarious and educational and you should definitely watch)

My daughter's learned about her last week in their online school lessons

Yes but only just learned about Nanny of the Maroons. Great documentary on Amazon Prime but it was 'Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls' that took us there.

Yes. But I live in the USA. My third grader has studied her in school.

I am American (50 from Texas) and learned about her from school.

I am very impressed that so many non-Americans know about her :)

Yes of course. I grew up in America in the 70s and 80s. She is a well known figure and always has been.

Never heard of her until I saw the film

Yes, I have known of her for ages, I think first from a mention in a poem by the great American feminist poet Judy Grahn.

Yes! My daughter has a Little People Big Dreams book about her. Must admit I didn't know her before she got the book...

Well my first though was about a Jody Blume book with a girl called something Tubman so .....

Never heard of her!! I'm in my 40s...off to Google...

Yes.

And there was a stink about the Hollywood film that was being made about her, quite recently.

Some big, fat cat Hollywood producers and execs wanted to make sure that the film was a box office smash.

Therefore, in order to ensure this success, they pitched hard the idea that Harriet Tubman should be played by.....

Wait for it....

Julia Roberts.

www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/20/studio-wanted-julia-roberts-to-play-harriet-tubman-cynthia-erivo

Yes I teach it as part of our American civil rights unit at school. I'm always looking for ways to involve more of history's great and significant women in my schemes of work. Bbc Bitesize have an excellent clip on her which the students love!

Julia Roberts.

Am actually speechless.

Really?!

@JaninaDuszejko

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.

I have known about Harriet Tubman for decades (late 50s). I am not sure where I first read about her, but I was a prolific reader as a child.

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.

^This

Yes

Slightly embarrassed to say I first heard about her on the TV show Timeless. Time travel show, often finding themselves around less well known very important figures in history. It's a massive cheese-fest but quite fun.
Harriet Tubman was a truly awesome woman.

I grew up in the town where she settled at the end of her life (I have name changed as this is incredibly outing)

We used to visit her house every year on school trips, and studied her in great depth in school. She was an amazing woman. I am delighted she'll be on the $20 bill.

@CigarsofthePharoahs hijacking to say there was a table read at the weekend (on zoom) of at least one new episode!

Yes, but only because of the film.

Only because she was on an episode of "You're dead to me" podcast on the BBC.

Quite embarrassed about that really

@JaninaDuszejko

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.

Oh that is a fascinating list, thank you.

I know about the black Roman regiments, Dido Belle, Sara Bonetta Forbes, and I think a couple of the others I know the story, but can't identify the name.

I know about them from a couple of recent TV series about exploring the other side of our history. There was one where a famous comedian (whose name I have forgotten) traced lots of historical black people in UK.

I'm going to track some of these down and see if I can find a comprehension I can use with my kids (tutor).

I love giving them stories about people they wouldn't normally hear about

Yes. She was in The Penguin Book of Heroines I think.

I also taught about her as a teacher 30 years ago.