Olman bought The Underground Abductor for our kid as a Christmas present. It's part of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series of graphic novels, like the Donner Dinner Party and Big Bad Ironclad!
The Underground Abductor had a hazard level ORANGE (GRAVE), as it deals with human slavery, supernatural visions, chains, massacre, revolt, beatings, whipping, caning, muskrat-trapping, head injury, late nights (!), fever, secret tunnels and drugged babies.
I found it interesting how the warning neglected two more “hazards”: desperate amateur dentistry (when Harriet had to knock out a bad tooth with a rock and pistol butt while hiding in the woods with four fugitive slaves, and quite late at night too!) and a gruesome sword attack (when slave captors got hacked to death by broad swords wielded by John Brown and his two sons!).
Despite all this adult content, the kid really enjoyed the book. Since it was Black History Month, her Grade 4 class had been talking about influential and/or historical black figures. Her teacher asked the students who their favourite black hero was, and naturally, she chose Harriet Tubman. She even asked me who mine was (I chose Angela Davis), but I admitted I didn’t know much about Harriet Tubman. My daughter then told me I should read The Underground Abductor, so here we are!
Harriet Tubman a.k.a Araminta Ross aka Ole Chariot aka General Moses aka The Underground Abductor was not only known by many names, she also wore many hats: underground abductor, abolitionist, general, nurse, scout, spy.
She also survived a severe head injury where a chunk of lead was thrown at her. Even though she had fully recovered, she suffered from intermittent narcolepsy and visions ever since. At times, God would speak to her and his voice would somehow guide her during her dangerous missions as an underground abductor and spy.
Harriet’s first mission as an underground abductor was to lead a group of 11 to safety. She had led many successful missions since then. At one point, during a single night, Harriet even helped liberate over 800 slaves when she led an army with Colonel James Montgomery.
One does wonder if Harriet had divine intervention to help her as she never got caught, which was a miracle in itself. Certainly many of her contacts and allies did, such as kick-ass Quaker stationmaster, Thomas Garrett. Quakers were philosophically opposed to slavery and despite having been heavily fined and arrested, Garrett continued to aid fugitive slaves.
As a side research, I learned that Quakers played a huge role in the formation of the Underground Railroad, with George Washington complaining as early as 1786 that a “society of Quakers, formed for such purposes, have attempted to liberate” a neighbor’s slave.
All in all, I learned a lot and now regard Harriet Tubman as one of my fave heroes, period.
