Most of the time when we see pictures of Harriet Tubman, we see her in the winter of her life. She’s bundled up and a bit hunched over. For a woman who was only 5’2, she didn’t need any additional help looking small. Looking at the older pictures, it’s hard to fathom a woman of her stature being able to free hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad and then another 727 more during the Civil War.
But a new picture, from an abolitionist’s journal, shows Tubman around the time when she was living life as a superhero, liberating people from the injustices of the world.
Get it Harriet. This newly discovered photo of #HarrietTubman is ?..look at the Greatest American Revolutionary…as a young Black Woman #BadAssBlackWomen
A photo posted by michaela angela davis (@michaelaangelad) on Jan 27, 2017 at 6:50pm PST
According to Mic, the new photo was discovered by historian Kate Clifford Larson, who found the image in a photo album once owned by Tubman’s friend and fellow abolitionist Emily Howland. Larson said, “What’s remarkable about this photograph is that she’s so proud and dignified and beautiful,” Larson said. “She looks so young. This is the vibrant young Tubman just coming off her work during the Civil War. She’s building her life with her family in Auburn.”
Larson estimates that Tubman was around 43-46 years-old at the time the photo was taken.
Plenty of folks are now hoping this is the image that will be used on the new $20 bill.
The photo is set to be auctioned off at the Swann Galleries in New York City on March 30.
Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.
