The Brightside: Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, “Minty’s Act of Courage Mural”
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – The Harriet Tubman and Educational Center is dedicated to preserving the history and memory of Harriet Tubman. Through efforts from the community and the Harriet Tubman Organization, Inc., it’s continuing to grow with the addition of “Minty’s Act of Courage Mural.”
Songs of hope and joy in Cambridge at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, a place projecting and promoting the great likes of the prominent and historical figure. “When you come to our museum we welcome you and we begin telling you the story of Harriet Tubman,” says Lind Harris, Director of the Harriet Tubman Museum. “Small, mighty, tough, courageous, she persevered, she had enormous faith, and that’s the things that we need to be talking about right now.”
Harris considers herself a history buff, especially when it comes to Harriet. “I don’t view this as work at all, I wake up very excited to have yet another day to talk about Harriet Tubman.” She adds, “So when you come here I want you to learn about Harriet Tubman, learn more after you leave, and then take that information and learn about your ancestors.”
Through the use of walking tours, artifacts, and murals, the Harriet Tubman Organization is bringing Harriet’s story to life, which we’re told is only possible because of the investment from the community. “There’s so much rich history here and in my opinion, it is the birth of all that we know on the East Coast.” She goes on to say, “A community came together to do this, and it’s the community that keeps us going.”
Part of those community efforts were put into creating the newest mural, “Minty at the Bucktown store;” Minty is a nickname for Harriet’s birthname Araminta. The mural portrays Harriet’s first act of defiance as she protected a runaway slave, leading to an injury, that historians say changed her trajectory in life. “Her skull was cracked, blood streaming down her face. She’s eventually taken back to her plantation. After that, she develops epilepsy and she starts to have these visions of heaven. Harris says that propels her to say to herself, these visions are my signals that it’s time to go.”
While many years in the works, this museum and educational center is showing just how art can connect people, books, and artifacts, and paint a story that will carry on for generations. “I have coined a phrase, find the Harriet in you take a tiny aspect of what she did and embrace it and it will change you forever.” Harris adds, “Courage, tenacity, faith, community, love, self-love, love of others, imagine how amazing this place would be, the world would be, so that’s what we talk about when we talk about Harriet Tubman.”
The center can help with what Harris says, is their organization’s goal to create a better world. “So keep the past present so that we can propel ourselves forward on a common positive goal to make the world a better place, and that’s what Harriet Tubman did.”
“Minty’s Act of Courage Mural” grand reveal consisted of groups that came from Virginia, DC, Delaware, New York, and the Western and Eastern Shores of Maryland.
The museum and education center will generally be open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. For more information, and hours, or to book future tours, visit their website.
