SpyCast How did Harriet Tubman operate as a spy?
Feb 18, 2025
Edda Fields-Black, a social historian and author, joins Harriet Tubman’s great-great-great-grandniece, Ernestine Martin-Wyatt, to discuss Tubman's extraordinary role as a Civil War spy. They delve into how Tubman's espionage efforts led to a pivotal raid that freed over 750 enslaved people. Edda shares insights into Tubman’s innovative tactics and leadership, while Ernestine emphasizes the importance of preserving Tubman’s legacy in the fight for freedom and democracy, even as discussions about her potential image on currency highlight ongoing struggles for representation.
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Unexpected Discovery
- Edda Fields-Black stumbled upon Harriet Tubman's story while researching rice cultivation along the Combahee River.
- Finding Tubman's presence there, she shifted her focus to the Combahee River Raid.
Tubman's Unknown Chapter
- The Civil War period is the least understood part of Tubman's life due to limited official records.
- New sources are necessary to fully document her Civil War service.
Tubman's Strengths
- Despite physical limitations and illiteracy, Tubman led the Combahee River Raid.
- She used intelligence gathering and infiltration to achieve success.