Harriet (2019)

Harriet is a 2019 film that follows the story of Harriet Tubman, from her birth into American slavery to her time as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and key figure in the Civil War. One of the first movies to feature this iconic figure in American History, the film emphasizes Tubman’s spirituality and how it guided her to rescue more than 70 enslaved persons throughout the mid-19th century.

Overall, historians praise the accuracy of Tubman’s disposition as a fierce historical figure, but also note how the film takes several liberties with historical events and characters. Created during the same era of many popular Hollywood superhero movies, historians describe how several of the characters in Harriet seem almost too heroic and formulaic in nature.

While many critics praise the performances of the actors and the film’s portrayal of Tubman’s story, others believe that the limited scope of the narrative left out several key aspects of Tubman’s life and legacy. However, critics also note how this limited scope provides all types of viewers with a fitting introduction to the history and impact of Harriet Tubman. As a result, the film can be used as a teaching tool in classrooms and theaters alike.

Further Reading

Books

Edda L. Fields-Black, Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2024). 

Erica Armstrong Dunbar, She Came To Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2019).

Sarah H. Bradford, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, (W.J. Moses Printers: 1869). 

Articles

“Harriet Tubman: Life, Liberty and Legacy,” National Museum of African American History and Culture, April 2023.

Kasi Lemmons and Maria Garcia, “A Biopic Should Entertain As Well As Inspire: An Interview with Kasi Lemmons,” Cinéaste 45, no. 2 (2020): 34–37. 

Meilan Solly, “The True Story Behind the Harriet Tubman Movie,” Smithsonian Magazine, October 2019.

“Slavery, Hollywood, and Public Discourse,” National Museum of African American History and Culture, February 2018. 

Film Reviews

David Price, “Harriet (2019) Movie Review,” Clara Barton Museum, November 22, 2019.

Peter Bradshaw, “Harriet Review – Cynthia Erivo Is Sublime as Legendary Slave Rebel,” The Guardian, September 11, 2019.

Tomris Laffly, “Harriet Movie Review & Film Summary (2019),” Roger Ebert, November 1, 2019.

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