The Crossway Podcast The Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman (Shar Walker)
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Mar 23, 2026 Shar Walker, writer and college ministry alum and author of a children’s biography of Harriet Tubman, guides listeners through Tubman’s life of sacrifice and service. Short segments cover her childhood and enslavement, the head injury that shaped her, daring escapes and rescues via the Underground Railroad, Civil War service, spiritual life and the role of songs, and writing for young readers.
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Shop Attack Explains Her Lifelong Injury
- As a teen Harriet intervened in a shop to protect an enslaved boy and was struck in the head with a two-pound weight by the slave master.
- She fell into a coma, miraculously survived, and carried lasting injuries that influenced her life.
Escape To Philadelphia Brought Relief And Loneliness
- Harriet's first escape attempt with her brothers failed when some returned, but she later fled again when she learned she faced being sold.
- Crossing into Philadelphia brought joy and relief, but also loneliness because her family remained enslaved.
Underground Railroad Was A Decentralized Network
- The Underground Railroad was an organic, decentralized network using codes, songs, and safe houses rather than a single plan.
- Tubman used those signals, traveled mostly by night, and sometimes brandished a pistol to prevent runaways from turning back.
