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Secondary sourceBook1924

The Gift of Black Folk, Chapter VI

W. E. B. Du Bois · 1924

A chapter from W. E. B. Du Bois's 1924 book describing Harriet Tubman's rescues and Civil War service.

Du Bois cites Tubman's rescues and wartime service as an example of Black women's historic resistance.

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About this source

What it is

This is a chapter from The Gift of Black Folk, a 1924 book by W. E. B. Du Bois about the contributions of Black Americans to the nation. In it, Du Bois discusses Harriet Tubman as an example of Black women's resistance, noting that she was illiterate and worked from 1849 through the Civil War.

Why it matters

Written by a major Black scholar and activist, this passage places Tubman within a larger history of Black women's struggle and contribution to American democracy. It shows how her story was used to argue for the importance of Black Americans' role in shaping the nation.

Look closer

  • Why does Du Bois mention that Tubman was illiterate?
  • What point is Du Bois trying to make by including Tubman's story in a book about Black contributions to America?
  • What does this passage suggest about how Tubman's legacy was being used decades after her rescues?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Harriet, the Moses of Her People

Sarah Bradford · 1886

Sepia carte-de-visite portrait of a seated Black woman in a dark long-sleeved dress with a white collar and a light checked skirt, leaning her arm on a spindle chair. Handwritten signature reads Harriet Tubman. Red and cream border.Photograph

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Carte-de-visite Portrait of Harriet Tubman

Benjamin Powelson · c. 1868-1869

Scanned handwritten General Affidavit form, filled in by hand, with a title printed at top. The text describes a claim for services as nurse and cook in hospitals and as commander of scouts during the Civil War. Signatures of affiants appear at the bottom, including Harriet Tubman's name and her mark.Document

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General Affidavit of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman · 1898

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