“I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other.”
—Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was born into enslavement in 1822. Her early life was spent on a plantation in Maryland. She labored, farming with her siblings. Tubman would later be leased to families, providing childcare for white children while she herself was still a child.
Her life would be dramatically impacted in her early adolescence. While out at a local store, she witnessed an attempted escape from enslavement. In an act of resistance, she refused to help the enslaver in their effort to recapture the escapee. During the commotion, the enslaver threw a two-pound weight that hit Harriet Tubman in the back of the head, fracturing her skull. The effects would leave her permanently disabled, often experiencing chronic pain, seizures, and what would now be called narcolepsy.
As an adult, Tubman sought her own freedom. Venturing to Pennsylvania alone, she met a man named William Still, who was a Conductor on the Underground Railroad. Soon Tubman herself would become a Conductor, leading over 70 enslaved people to freedom—never losing a passenger on their journey toward freedom.
Today is Harriet Tubman Day and we remember her as a powerful and unrelenting figure who dreamed of freedom from bondage, ultimately making her vision of liberation a reality. Various organizations now exist in honor of her memory. One such organization is The Tubman Center for Health and Freedom in Seattle.
Tubman Health, established in 2020 by six Black, Native, and queer community leaders, is pioneering a new healthcare model in Seattle. Focused on health justice, culturally appropriate care, and integrative medicine, Tubman Health addresses both clinical needs and systemic factors affecting wellness.
Currently, they operate the Healing House in South Seattle, a tranquil space offering primary care, mental health services, acupuncture, and more. In 2027, they plan to open a 40,000-square-foot facility in South Seattle, aiming to serve 12,000 primary care patients and over 16,000 community members through health promotion programs.
