WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY* - As announced in the invitation to today's "Lisa Tolliver Show" broadcast on New York Radio WVOX AM 1460 and www.wvox.com, today's show celebrated International Women's Day (IWD--which is today) and Harriet Tubman Day (which is March 10). My guest, Marcelle Grant, who both works for and volunteers with the Greater New York Council of Boy Scouts of America (BSA), described that organization and the roles that girls and women play in BSA and its divisions.
March 10 is Harriet Tubman Day: Mrs. Harriet Tubman Davis, a.k.a., "Moses," "Famous Heroine of Slave Days," died in Auburn, New York on March 10, 1913 in the home she founded to support elderly and ailing African Americans. Her character to the end of the line was that of devout Christian, brave warrior, unselfish philanthropist and servant. This was evident even in her final call, as reported in her March 11, 1913 Memoriam in the Auburn Citizen: “Give my love to all the churches,” and after a severe coughing spell she blurted out in a thick voice this farewell passage which she had learned from Matthew: “I go away to prepare a place for you, and where I am ye may be also.”
Harriet Tubman (as she was familiarly called, even after marrying Civil War veteran Nelson Davis in 1870, who was 20 years her junior) was born a slave who, after escaping a brutal life of bondage in Maryland, made 19 additional trips as an Underground Railroad conductor to free hundreds of other slaves, including her parents. She was also an active abolitionist, philanthropist and suffragette (who worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony for women's right to vote) and a spy, scout and nurse for the Union Army.
Numerous books and websites, such as Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad for Children and The Harriet Tubman Historical Society provide a wealth of exciting information about her amazing life, accomplishments and honors. They also share sad facts, such as the conditions Ms. Tubman endured as a slave, cases in which she was egregiously under compensated and cheated entirely out of compensation for her work, and her unfortunate financial status when she died. However, even those low notes can't drown out the cacophony of inspirational stories and accolades, which reverberate throughout international history.
The images posted here depict two of the many honors earned by Ms. Tubman: a 13-cent and 32-cent United States postage stamp. Just a few of the many other prominent commemorations of her life and work include a medal, shawl, and invitation to visit England from Queen Victoria in 1897; her burial with full military honors in 1913; and the following Joint Resolution by the 101st Congress, which was approved in 1990:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That March 10, 1990 [the anniversary of her death in 1913] be designated as “Harriet Tubman Day,” to be observed by the people of the United States with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Harriet Tubman is a role model for the Boy Scouts of America: Despite the many hardships she faced, Harriet Tubman consistently modeled amazing courage, leadership, civic and outdoorsman skills throughout her life. These are some of the traits that BSA seeks to instill in participants.
Little known facts about the Boy Scouts of America worth mentioning on IWD: Did you know that girls participate in BSA via the Venturing Division? That BSA and Girl Scouts of the USA were completely separate and distinct organizations? Or that the phrase in the Boy Scout Oath--"... To Help Other People at All Times ..."--translates into involvement in many disaster recovery activities? Click on the respective links in this paragraph to learn more about BSA and its Venturing Division and explore opportunities for youth, volunteers and job-seekers.MEDIA LIST: Media used or referred to during the March 8 "Lisa Tolliver Show" broadcast included...
DVD: The Underground Railroad (History Channel)
Music:
- Fallin' (Alicia Keys), from the album "Songs in A Minor": article, sample audio - scroll down to "Listen to Samples"
- I'm Every Woman (Chaka Kahn): article, sample audio
- I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston): article, sample audio
- I Am Woman (Helen Reddy): article, sample audio
- It's a Man's World (James Brown): article, sample audio
- It's a Man's Man's Man's World, album (Cher): article, sample audio
- Play my Women's History Month playlist: http://yme.music.yahoo.com/ymeNav/ymu/playlist/C2D2FFC7-7EB3-4B11-BE30-C6017C5F48D3
- 13-cent Harriet Tubman stamp from Their Stamp On History
- 32-cent Harriet Tubman stamp from Their Stamp On History
- Boy Scouts of America logo: home page
- BSA Venturing Division logo: home page
Wednesday, March 22:
- The "Lisa Tolliver Show" at 1:30-2:00 pm, Eastern Time with guests Lynn Connelly, Director of Strategic Alliances for Office Depot and a representative from Count-Me-In for Women's Economic Independence
- "SCORE Radio" at 1:00-1:30 pm, Eastern Time
- The "Lisa Tolliver Show' at 1:30-2:00 pm, Eastern Time
- "The Lisa Tolliver Show" at 1:30-2:00 pm, Eastern Time with guests Flavor Flav and playwright Ray Aydelott
