Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Jul 10, 2024

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Key Themes in the Song Presentation

  • Introduction

    • Music sets the emotional tone.
    • Harriet Tubman is the main focus.
  • Imagery of Perseverance

    • Face turned to the side
    • Weight on shoulders
    • Eyes in the back of the head (alert and ready to run)
  • Determination and Resilience

    • "Do what I can while I can"
    • Description of fighting with strength until the end.
  • Journey and Sacrifice

    • Freedom journey of 100 miles
    • Various struggles on the path to salvation
    • Losing blood on the way to freedom
  • Collective Effort

    • "Take my people with me"
    • Togetherness in crossing the river
    • Concept of collective salvation
  • Victory and Hope

    • Stars filling the night
    • Light shining
    • Continued effort to keep moving forward ("keep on keepin' on")
  • Symbolism

    • River as a boundary for freedom
    • Reference to changing names as a mark of freedom
  • Historical Context

    • Welcome to the Underground Railroad: reference to the network used by enslaved African Americans to escape

Important Lines and Their Significance

  • "I got eyes in the back of my head just in case I have to run"

    • Constant vigilance and readiness to escape oppression.
  • "Take my people with me together we are going"

    • Emphasis on collective action and leadership.
  • "Keep on keepin' on"

    • Encouragement to persist despite challenges.
  • "I fight with the strength that I got until I die"

    • Depicts the fierce determination to achieve freedom.