Remembering “Black Moses” - Riveting New Book Celebrates the Life of Harriet Tubman

As Americans celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February, much attention is focused on the African-American fight for freedom and equality. At the forefront of any discussion of African-American freedom is Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad. Known as “Black Moses,” “Grandma Moses,” and “Moses of Her People,” Tubman stands tall as one of American history’s greatest and most important figures.

(PRWEB) February 19, 2006 -- As Americans celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February, much attention is focused on the African-American fight for freedom and equality. At the forefront of any discussion of African-American freedom is Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad. Known as “Black Moses,” “Grandma Moses,” and “Moses of Her People,” Tubman stands tall as one of American history’s greatest and most important figures.

Her contributions to rectifying social injustice in America are significant. During the Civil War, Tubman served as both a cook and a nurse, and even ended up spying for the North. She helped lead hundreds of slaves to freedom during the Civil War and even led a military raid at Combahee Ferry in Colleton County, South Carolina. This event signified the first time in U.S. history that a military operation was planned and led by a woman. In her later years, she acted as an activist for both African-Americans and women of all races. She also founded a home for the indigent aged in New York and toured as a speaker.

Although she is considered by historians to be a “giant” in American history, very few in-depth books have been written about Tubman. Almost a decade in the making, authors Margaret Ross Seward Peters and E.M. Anderson have put together "Home, Miss Moses: A Novel in the Time of Harriet Tubman" (Higganum Hill Books, 2006). The courageous novel, written about one of the darkest periods in American history, seeks to raise further awareness about the significant accomplishments of Tubman.

Like 2005’s publishing sensation, "The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks, "Home, Miss Moses" is a meticulously researched fictional account of a much-admired historical figure. Written in the first-person, "Home, Miss Moses" follows Tubman’s life as a child and culminates in her later years as she toured the country, interacting with famous American social and political figures.

The book is an unblinking view of the intolerable life lived by many slaves. It also exposes the brutal incompetence of the military leadership of some Union units and acts as an unforgiving examination of the post-Civil War reinstitution and suppression in the South. At a time of great strife in the United States, Tubman acts as a beacon in the darkness, guiding us ever closer toward freedom and equality.

For an advance review copy of the book or to set up an interview with E.M. Anderson for a story, please contact Sarah Van Blaricum at 727-443-7115, ext. 207.

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