She Escaped, Then Went Back to Save Others

Harriet Tubman: A Name Every Woman Should Know

There are women whose stories shake the world, whose courage defies all odds, and whose lives remind us that no matter where we are, we can rise. Today, as the United States celebrates Harriet Tubman, I, a young Nigerian woman, want to share her story with you. Because her fight was not just for her people, it was for all of us who dare to believe in freedom, in change, and in a better world.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in the early 1820s in Maryland, USA. She was not given an easy life. As a child, she was beaten, forced to work, and denied an education. But even in those dark times, Harriet had something powerful to hope for. She knew in her heart that she was not meant to live in chains. She refused to accept that slavery was her destiny.

One day, Harriet decided she would no longer live as a slave. She escaped, running through the night, guided only by the North Star. It was dangerous. If she was caught, she would have been returned and punished severely. But Harriet was determined. She reached Pennsylvania, a free state, and tasted freedom for the first time in her life.

But her story didn’t end there.

Most people, after gaining their freedom, would have stayed away from danger. Not Harriet. She could not enjoy her freedom while her people were still in chains. So she made a decision that she would go back. Not once, not twice, but again and again to lead others to freedom.

Harriet Tubman became the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses and people who helped slaves escape to free states and Canada. She made over 13 trips and rescued around 70 enslaved people, including her own family. She risked everything, knowing that if she was caught, she would be killed.

Each time she led people to freedom, she carried a gun not to fight the slave catchers, but to ensure that no one turned back. She once said, “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

Reading about her, I see the same strength I have seen in many women here on world pulse. Women who wake up every day fighting to change their lives, fighting to put food on the table, fighting to give their children a better future. Women who refuse to let poverty, oppression, or fear define them.

Harriet Tubman teaches us that courage is not about having no fear, it is about choosing to act despite the fear.

Even after slavery was abolished, Harriet did not stop fighting for justice. She worked as a nurse, a spy during the Civil War, and later opened a home for elderly African Americans. She spent her entire life serving others.

Today, as I reflect on her story, I see the lessons she left for us:

1. Never let fear stop you. Harriet Tubman was afraid, but she never let fear win. How many times have we allowed fear to hold us back from our dreams?
2. Lift others as you rise. She didn’t escape and forget those still suffering. She went back for them. Who are we helping as we grow?
3. Freedom is worth fighting for. Whether it is financial freedom, educational freedom, or personal freedom, we must never stop striving for it.

Harriet Tubman’s story is not just American history; it is a global lesson in resilience, courage, and purpose.

As a Nigerian woman, I am reminded that my challenges may be different, but the fight for a better life is the same. Whether it is fighting for girls’ education, for equal opportunities, or for an end to gender-based violence, we must keep pushing forward.

So today, I celebrate Harriet Tubman. I celebrate all women who refuse to be held down by circumstances.

I celebrate you, reading this, because if you have a dream, a vision, a purpose so keep going. The road may be tough, but remember Harriet, remember her strength, and know that you, too, can change lives.

Let’s continue to use our voices, our platforms, and our actions to build a world where no one is left behind.

Let’s bring the world together through the digital space for good. And like Harriet Tubman, let’s keep moving forward, no matter what.