The Ultimate Outdoorswoman
/How Harriet Tubman could change your perspective on who belongs outdoors
“Take My Hand” mural at Harriet Tubman museum (Photo courtesy the Tubman Byway)
“If Black folks knew more about [Harriet Tubman] … our collective relationship with the outdoors might look a little different than it does today. Maybe we’d take more ownership of it as our own.”
You probably learned about Harriet Tubman in school growing up — how she led slaves to freedom on the underground railroad. But she was a lot more than an activist and freedom fighter. She was a daughter, wife, entrepreneur — and a talented outdoorswoman.
On this episode, we explore Tubman’s relationship with nature; we unpack how that history shapes the way Black Americans engage with the outdoors today; and we show how a closer look at Tubman could offer new perspectives on who belongs outdoors.
Victoria Marin has the story.
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This episode was inspired by the podcast Following Harriet and was produced in collaboration with Ingredient Creative and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. To learn more about Virginia’s history and land as it relates to the Black experience, visit virginia.org/blacktravel.
Special thanks to Sheeba Joseph, who spearheaded the project, co-produced the episode, and facilitated the collaboration.
For Further Listening
In honor of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, we’ve compiled a playlist of stories that highlight Black experiences outdoors and celebrate the diverse and meaningful ways that African Americans engage with the natural world.
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Out Travel the System
