Harriet Tubman: A Pathway to Our Roots
There are two things I’ve got a right to, and these are, Death or Liberty – one or the other I mean to have. No one will take me back alive; I shall fight for my liberty, and when the time has come for me to go, the Lord will let them, kill me.
These are the words that kept Harriet Tubman alive during her darkest days. She made it abundantly clear that she preferred to be with God over being enslaved. Harriet’s strong faith in God and compassion for all enslaved people enabled her to show courage and risk her life numerous times in the most treacherous situations.
I’ve always been fascinated by Harriet Tubman’s stories. I chose her as a subject for this digital artwork because I wanted to pay tribute to her courage. As a photoartist, I use photographs in conjunction with other digital media to create works of art. The composite consists of three images – one of which features Harriet dressed in a surreal African print turban and gown. In another Harriet has guns concealed in her turban. and the third image she is an outfit I can imagine her wearing. This digital image created on the computer is a representation of her bravery. She embodies physical strength, empathy, and a fearlessness in the face of adversity.
Born Araminta Ross in March of 1822, she spent a significant portion of her life navigating the difficult terrain of the Southern wilderness; a purgatory of danger situated between slavery and freedom. Harriet Tubman’s leadership as a conductor on the underground railroad enabled the survival of future generations of African Americans. She is the only woman known to independently lead groups of enslaved people to freedom via multiple journeys between the North and South.
Harriet is the ultimate female heroine. A true Queen Mother. She died March 10, 1913.
- Harriet Tubman: A Pathway to Our Roots - 03/24/2022
- Transgenerational Trauma and Healing for African-Americans - 02/16/2022
- Lisa DuBois, Benin Bronzes and Conceptual Art - 07/06/2021