Araminta Ross, the mother of enslaved people and global icon of freedom, was born near Cambridge, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore, in early 1822. She would later become the historical heroine Harriet Tubman.
Two hundred years after her birth, Tubman is acknowledged and respected as one of the most influential freedom fighters in Black history. Born into slavery to Harriet Green and Ben Ross and eight siblings, she would eventually be separated from due to the realities of slavery.
John Tubman, a free Black man, married Harriet around 1844, changing her last name to Tubman. Harriet met and worked with other abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett and Martha Coffin Wright and established her Underground Railroad network.
She would save over 300 enslaved people throughout her life, personally saving over 70, including family members.
On Mar. 10, 1913, Harriet died and was buried with military honors in Auburn. Last year, she was inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame.
Over the last 100 years since Harriet’s death, musicians have paid homage to her legacy, contribution to fighting for freedom and even pride in having her spirit instilled in themselves.
Here are six songs that pay tribute to “General Tubman,” Harriet Tubman.
Janelle Monáe - "Q.U.E.E.N."
Released in April 2013, Janelle Monae referred to Harriet in her hit single, “Q.U.E.E.N,” featuring musician Erykah Badu. According to the singer, “Q.U.E.E.N.” (acronym of “Queer, Untouchables, Emigrants, Excommunicated and Negroid”) was inspired by several private conversations between Monae and Badu.
Q.U.E.E.N. was inspired by private discussions between Erykah and me. It is meant to make you JAM. DANCE. FUNK OUT. and dialogue later…
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi Mayweather👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) April 22, 2013
Mixing masterminds like your name Bernie Grundman/ Well I’ma keep leading like a young Harriet Tubman/ You can take my wings, but I’m still goin’ fly/ And even when you edit me the booty don’t lie.
Jay Rock - "Broke +-"
Top Dawg Entertainment’s artist, Jay Rock, released the track “Broke +-” featured on his third studio album, Redemption, in June 2018. In his lyrics, Jay Rock references this quote that is often incorrectly attributed to Harriet.
“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Although there is no way of knowing whether Tubman said the aforementioned quote, many sources cite the infamous “conductor” of saving only around 300 people during her efforts.
The vision my pugilistic moods insisted/ Food come from them tools he so choose to use/ Now Harriet Tubman say she freed a thousand slaves/ Could’ve freed a thousand more if they was aware of the chains
Run - D.M.C - "Proud to be Black"
Among Run-D.M.C’s studio albums, Raising Hell is probably one of the most popular and high-ranked. Ranked #123 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums of all time, ranked #4 on comedian Chris Rock’s list of Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time and chosen as one of Time’s 100 greatest albums, the album is one of the more outlasting Hip-Hop albums, 36 years after its release. Despite Harriet’s birth as a slave, the rappers point out that she lived her life to help others be free and because of her contribution, slavery no longer exists.
Now Harriet Tubman was born a slave/ She was a tiny Black woman, but she was brave/ She was livin’ to be givin’, there’s a lot that she gave/ There’s not a slave in this day and age, I’m proud to be Black
Azealia Banks - "The Chamber"
In Love Beats Rhymes, Rappers Azealia Banks and MC Jin performed “The Chamber.” The film, directed by one of Wu-Tang Clan’s founding members, RZA, follows a young rapper looking to pursue a career in music.
During one of the rap battles seen in the movie, Banks goes against MC Jin, known as one of the freestyle Friday’s winners on BET’s 106 and Park, winning every day for seven weeks. Banks relates to Harriet by their ties to the Underground; Harriet with the underground railroad and Banks with underground music.
I’m Rosa Parks with the lead cause I’m staying in the front/ Hellen Keller, Anne Frank, Cleopatra, Billie Jean/ I’m Harriet Tubman, I run the underground by any means/ Just some famous women before you brag about what men can do
Angie Stone - "My People"
“My People” is a track featured on R&B singer Angie Stone’s fourth studio album, The Art of Love & War. The song’s lyrics best describe the pride and love that Stone has as a Black woman.
Naming several notable and vital people in Black History, Stone encourages her fans to walk with their heads held high and walk with pride. Tubman is named in the song and other important Black people in history, including; Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and more.
Harriet Tubman, Shirley Caesar/ Miss Jane Pittman, Juanita Bynum / Maya Angelou, Bishop T.D. Jakes/ Madam C.J. Walker, Bishop Noel Jones /Moms Mabley, Reverend Blake Scott/ Aretha Franklin, Reverend Jamal Bryant
Yo Yo - "Girls Got A Gun"
A track from Yo-Yo’s third studio album, You Better Ask Somebody, “Girls Got a Gun” was released in 1993. Ice Cube produced the song.
The song was released a year after the LA Riots in 1992, the result of the acquittal of four police officers, who were filmed beating Rodney King, a Black man who was pulled over for speeding and the killing of Latasha Harlins, a young Black girl who a Korean-American convenience store owner fatally shot.
In the song, Yo-Yo speaks from a place of anger and frustration, denouncing then-President Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton while priding herself as having the spirit of Harriet in her.
The devil don’t know who the man be/Come and check it out, I got the fat artillery/Harriet Tubman’s spirit instilled in me/**** Bill Clinton and Hillary
