Schools

VIDEO: Bed-Stuy Celebrates Harriet Tubman Day

Community leaders, elected officials and students of all ages celebrate "Harriet Tubman Day," hosted by City Council Member Albert Vann

Friday, March 9, community leaders, elected officials and students across Bedford-Stuyvesant celebrated “Harriet Tubman Day” in New York State during Women's History Month, with a special ceremony sponsored by City Council Member Albert Vann at Boys and Girls High School.

The celebration was the 9th annual event held at the high school, located at 1700 Fulton Street, also named “Harriet Ross Tubman Avenue.”

Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist and Union spy during the American Civil War. After escaping from slavery, into which she was born, she made thirteen missions to rescue hundreds of slaves, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

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Harriet Tubman’s great grand-nieces, Ms. Geraldine Dainels and Ms. Pauline Johnson were honored invited guests at the event.

Other invited guests and speakers included keynote speaker Georgina Ngozi, president and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Congressman Ed Towns, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Reverend Dr. Conrad Tillard, pastor of Nazarene Congregational United Church of Christ and Reverend Shaun J. Lee, pastor of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church.

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The program presented citations of recognition from the City of New York for a number of esteemed Bed-Stuy community leaders and included performances by Vanguard Youth Council Dance Troupe, The Noel Pointer Foundation and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Youth Arts Academy.

Gassaway referenced Tubman’s sacrifices and accomplishments, challenging the young audience members to live their life with purpose, make their mark on the world and choose a path that will serve their fellow community members.

Vann shared with the students the horrific and compelling story of the Trans Atlantic slave trade that brought Africans to America, pointing to Tubman’s courageous decision not only to escape slavery, but also risk her own freedom and her life by going back 13 times to help other slaves attain the freedom they deserved as human beings. 

“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed more, if only they knew they were slaves” --Harriet Tubman


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