BALTIMORE, July 4—Comrades in the Baltimore area organized a Progressive Labor Party (PLP) sponsored trip to Cambridge, MD, where we visited two museums—the community-built Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, and the ruling class-run Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center—dedicated to the life and struggle of antiracist abolitionist, Harriet Tubman.
Despite the heavy holiday traffic—during the July 4 weekend, dedicated to hypocritical celebration of U.S. capitalist independence—family and friends of the Party made the most of the occasion.
Before the trip, one comrade gave a short speech on the significance of Tubman’s—and many many others’—resistance to the institution of slavery, connecting her determination to the same attitude needed in the Party’s fight for the upcoming sisterhood and brotherhood of a communist world.
It was also emphasized that, like Tubman herself, we need to be active in mass organizations, building bonds with a diverse array of workers, to knock down the oppressors of the world.
Tubman brave fighter, not a“saint”
As part of the experience at the museums, both included short films depicting the numerous escape plans, tactics, and accomplishments of Tubman. One was an animated film that children could watch, and another was a biopic of Tubman throughout her life.
A comrade noted that the films portrayed Tubman as one of the many U.S. heroes who upheld the patriotic ideals…of the ruling class. Paintings in the national park museum added to that propaganda: Harriet Tubman as the Statue of Liberty, and others in a style inspired by Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych series.
Some art critics say those particular paintings by Warhol were commenting on the saint-like nature that fans often assign to celebrities, which in turn causes the public to approach celebrities with some sense of holiness. But Harriet Tubman was neither a saint nor someone to whom we should give glory, while remaining meek ourselves. No, she was one among many highly inspiring leaders in the struggle against slavery, someone we should emulate, but not praise passively.
The irony of equating Tubman with patriotism—which means being loyal to a country and its bosses, instead of upholding communist loyalty to the working class and oppressed people of the whole world—did not go unnoticed.
“Strenghtening connections, struggle, and the Party”
Throughout the day, we enjoyed snacks, meals, and the scenery of rural Cambridge. Along the way, we also enjoyed each other’s company and learned more about one another. At one point, a participant described his deep respect and appreciation for one of our comrades, from whom this participant has learned much about topics involving working class struggle and how they connect personally to his life.
We further connected through discussing family dynamics and history. This was of course the most significant part of the trip. Building connections with our working class family strengthens our bonds and deepens our respect for one another, making the Party stronger.
We ended our trip coming away with a more profound understanding and appreciation for the work that Tubman did. A strong-willed and compassionate woman, Tubman’s life ended with her continued practice of support for those in need, despite her own financial insecurity.
Of course, her diligence—working with many others to smash the horrid institution of slavery—must be a reminder to all of us, who expect change, that one must be in the fight completely for the oppressed with no tolerance for indecision or betrayal. Let Tubman’s leadership and legacy embolden the struggle for winning working-class state power and communism!