Movie Title: Harriet
Year of Release: 2020
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Cast: Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Leslie Odom Jnr (William Still), Joe Alwyn, Clarke Peters, Tim Guinee, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Janelle Monae (Marie Buchanon), Zackary Momoh (John Tubman), Vanessa Bell Calloway, Deborah Ayorinde (Harriet’s sister), Omar Dorsey (Bigger Long), Henry Hunter Hall (Walker).
All Araminta “Minty” Ross Tubman wanted was to start a family with her new husband as a free woman. Her father, a former slave, had gotten the required documentation to make this possible and all that was left was to present the document to Minty’s owner, Pattison Brodess, and freedom was guaranteed. Unfortunately, neither Mr Brodess nor his son, Gideon, who took over from him, was ready to let her go. But Minty had a dream which was not going to be stopped by anyone, and with that thought, she took matters into her own hands and got freedom, not only for herself but for countless others.
Harriet is a 2019 period film about the famous political activist and American abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. Named Araminta by her parents, she however changed her name to Harriet upon her successful escape. Harriet was born to Harriet and Ben Ross, slaves themselves. In 1849, she hatched a successful escape plan and so began her work in bringing numerous others to liberty. Her persistency quickly earned her the nickname “Moses” and she soon became a “conductor” in the Underground Railroad, a network of routes that escaping slaves followed to freedom.
Harriet the movie gave us an inside look into the kind of person Harriet Tubman was: a simple, passionate, bold, and fearless woman with a strong faith in God. In her own words, “God did not plan for people to own others.” She of course suffered too, heartbreak, betrayal, threats against her life, but in it all, she remained undaunted about getting as many slaves to freedom.
Beyond being another slave story, Harriet is particularly important in a year like 2022 where the International Women’s Day theme is #BreakTheBias. Harriet, by living her truth boldly, laid the foundation for other women to go all out for what they want irrespective of the barriers/bias they may face. But Harriet was not the only bold woman in the movie. Though later killed, Marie was another woman who, even at the point of death, remained fearless.
It was particularly refreshing to see a slave story that did not follow the usual suffering/helpless slaves narrative but was rather on how slaves were able to define their own destinies with help from others. Learning about the Anti-Slavery society, the underground railroad, and the work they did in ensuring liberty for countless slaves was another good part of watching Harriet.
Reviewed by Oriyomi Adebare-Anthony
Oriyomi Adebare-Anthony is a writer, editor, and volunteer with OPTG Africa.