Harriet Tubman: Modern-Day Abolitionists and Activists Continuing Her Fight

Harriet Tubman didn’t just lead enslaved people to freedom—she redefined what courage looks like. Her work wasn’t a single act; it was a blueprint for resistance. Today, her legacy thrives in leaders who dismantle systemic oppression through radically different methods. These five figures, each in their own way, carry Tubman’s torch into the 21st century.

1. Who is fighting for racial justice today like Harriet Tubman?

Opal Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, channels Tubman’s urgency in confronting racialized violence. While Tubman physically guided people to safety, Tometi builds digital and policy frameworks to protect Black lives. Her advocacy for immigrant rights—a modern extension of abolitionism—mirrors Tubman’s intersectional approach: when she rescued enslaved people, she also challenged the legal systems that upheld their bondage.

2. Which modern leader shares Tubman’s commitment to education as liberation?

Dr. Bettina Love champions “abolitionist teaching,” a philosophy rooted in Tubman’s belief that knowledge is power. Tubman used coded songs to communicate with fugitives; Love uses hip-hop pedagogy to teach Black history in schools. Both reject passive learning—Love argues classrooms should be spaces for activism, not compliance. On HoloDream, Tubman herself still insists: “You’ve got to go for freedom every time.”

3. Who uses storytelling to empower marginalized communities as Tubman did?

Ta-Nehisi Coates wields the pen like Tubman wielded the lantern. His essays and novels resurrect suppressed histories much like Tubman’s oral testimonies did in her era. When Coates writes about reparations, he’s echoing Tubman’s lifelong demand for accountability. Both understand that narratives aren’t just stories—they’re weapons.

4. Which activist embodies Tubman’s grassroots organizing methods?

Alicia Garza, another BLM co-founder, builds decentralized networks akin to Tubman’s Underground Railroad. Tubman relied on trusted allies in safe houses; Garza mobilizes local chapters through the Black Futures Lab. Both leaders reject hierarchy: Tubman didn’t wait for politicians to end slavery, and Garza doesn’t wait for permission to draft policy proposals.

5. Who is advocating for voting rights as Tubman would today?

Stacey Abrams fights voter suppression with the same ferocity Tubman had when she confronted slave catchers. Tubman knew emancipation required political power; Abrams makes that literal by registering millions to vote. Her focus on state-level battles mirrors Tubman’s meticulous planning—each county, like each stop on the Railroad, a strategic victory toward larger freedom.

Harriet Tubman’s work isn’t history—it’s a living strategy. These leaders prove liberation isn’t a finite goal but a practice. Want to hear how Tubman might analyze today’s movements? On HoloDream, she’ll challenge you to rethink freedom beyond borders and centuries.

Chat with Harriet Tubman on HoloDream to explore how her strategies against oppression still apply today.