0
0
Rating: 4 out of 5
During my elementary and middle school years, February was the time to learn about the beautiful black people who helped make America great. Usually, it was the time we learned about the American Civil War and slavery. I grew up in the South, and it was the time we really learned about black history. One of the famous people we talked about was Harriet Tubman. In my school days, it was always Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and how she helped slaves find freedom. The lesson with her was about 15 minutes maxed.
It wasn’t until later in life that you learn more about a person and the work they did. History and the school systems have a “great” way of leaving out many important details. Harriet Tubman is one of the famous, influential, and inspiring black Americans that history tells little about. Let me give you an extremely quick history lesson. Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross. Born into slavery, Tubman experienced the horrors of slavery. This is one of the lessons I learned later in life about Tubman’s slavery experience. She was beaten and whipped, and during one traumatic situation, her overseer threw a heavy object at her while aiming at another slave. The object hit Tubman in the head, causing some lasting damage. After the injury, Tubman stated that she started to have visions and vivid dreams that she said were messages from God. After escaping from the horrors of slavery, she became a conductor of the Underground Railroad. She made 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including her family and friends. How about this? Tubman was also a spy for the Union Army. She was a straight-up gangsta.
In 2019, a biographical film directed by Kasi Lemmons, who also wrote the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard, dropped upon the world. This film tells the incredible, legendary, and inspiring tale of Harriet Tubman (Erivo) from her time of escaping slavery, working as a maid, and ultimately becoming an ICON. She was one of the few prominent black women who helped change the course of American history with her courage, belief in God and desire to see a better world for free slaves.
I want to give Cynthia Erivo all the praise she deserves for her performance as Harriet Tubman. Erivo brought her A-game to this film and produced a powerful, valiant, and inspiring performance. She showed the pain and struggles of the famous abolitionist who believed in God and never lost her faith, even when she was challenged. She showed her fear and pain as she tried to free her family and loved ones while also showing her fearlessness and strength. Erivo deserved her Academy Award nomination, and I hope she continues in roles like these to show that she is one of the best in the industry today.
As for the story, it felt like it went along with the standard Hollywood biographical film structure. I will say that the film had two stories in one to show the growth and resilience of the famous historical figure. The first part of the film shows Tubman’s life before her escape. She lives on the Brodess plantation and is known as Araminta “Minty” Ross. She lives with her family and her husband, John, who is a freeman on paper but not really accepted in the South, so technically, he is still a slave. The Brodess headman rips up the papers in front of everyone. Also, the son Gideon is straight-up ruthless and is what you can say is the evil slave owner that you read in books.
The film throws in musical gospels to show the change in Tubman’s life. Erivo gracefully sings whatever is on her mind to get attention from someone or tell her inner thoughts. When she is about to leave her family, she sings about the fears and struggles she might have. When she returns, she sings to John to get his attention. I feel this was very well done and put into the film, as gospel music was prominent on slave plantations and spoke about what the population was feeling and experiencing during their days.
After Minty manages to roll out and make it to the North. She explains that it was God who showed her the way. Minty’s faith is strong in God as she tells people she receives visions and guidance from the Heavenly Father for protection. When she is in the North, she meets William Still, who helps her gain a new identity named Harriet, but when she embarks on her trips to the South to rescue slaves, she goes by the name of Moses. This name is prominent as Moses led his people out of slavery from the pharaoh.
The story continues to be straightforward as we see Harriet go on mission after mission. The one strong scene is when she leads a group of slaves, and they hit a river. One wants to turn back, but Harriet prays and walks into the river, showing that it’s not that deep and they can make it. The second half of the film is Harriet going back and forth on missions while Gideon is doing everything in his power to find her and stop slaves from escaping. He even hires slave catchers who are black. We also see the Fugitive Slave Act influence everything that is happening then. Before I forget, Gideon’s mother is also a hard-ass slave owner who hates the idea of selling her property. Things come ahead when Harriet comes to save her parents.
The film’s ending had a nice touch to show Harriet as a Union spy. Many probably had NO idea that Harriet did her part in the war to preserve the Union and free millions of blacks across the land. One of her accomplishments was when she led 150 black soldiers in the Combahee River Raid, freeing over 750 slaves. You know what we call that? BOSS MOVE!!
Harriet is one of those films you can watch during Black History Month. It isn’t as impactful as other films during this time period, and I wish it could’ve gone even deeper and harsher in Harriet’s world. The film seemed to be another film. It didn’t have the impact of Glory, 12 Years of Slave, or even Django Unchained. It is still a great film, but it didn’t hit hard. No matter what, we should honor and remember this remarkable woman. Thank you for everything, Harriet Tubman!
