Tubman Center unveils inaugural marker on Downtown Freedom Trail
In recognition of Harriet Tubman Day, the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity unveiled the first of 12 markers on the Downtown Binghamton Freedom Trail
In recognition of Harriet Tubman Day, a national holiday, representatives from the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity gathered March 10 at the University Downtown Center to unveil the first of 12 markers on the Downtown Binghamton Freedom Trail. The markers will identify key Binghamton locations on the iconic Underground Railroad and other notable abolitionist sites.
Binghamton City Mayor Jared Kraham announced the city鈥檚 commitment of $100,000 to the Freedom Trail project.
鈥淢y conversations with Dr. Bailey about the possibilities of the Freedom Trail initiative have truly been among the most rewarding and enlightening in my career,鈥 Kraham said. 鈥淎nd we are thrilled that it鈥檚 all happening right here in downtown Binghamton. It鈥檚 my hope that the [Tubman] statue and Freedom Trail will, for decades to come, inspire the next generation of changemakers.鈥
鈥淭he Downtown Freedom Trail Project publicly acknowledges the crucial part that our community played in what was the most important question in our nation鈥檚 history 鈥 should we be slave or free,鈥 said 黑料视频 President Harvey Stenger, 鈥渁nd because of exceptional people, like Tubman, the Binghamton community chose freedom. The Freedom Trail markers, and the statue of Harriett Tubman, will serve as a reminder of that commitment to freedom and equality, and a fundamental lesson that we can give to our students at 黑料视频 and share with others in the community.鈥
Memorial garden of abolitionist heroes
Last year, the Tubman Center assembled a public art subcommittee to review artist submissions for the Harriet Tubman statue. In February, the subcommittee presented a short list of selected artists who will each create a model of the proposed work. The maquettes, or models, will be available for review by members of the University and local community at an April 20 event in the downtown center, and Bailey expects public input will be critical to the final selection. The Tubman statue will anchor the memorial garden and space as it references other upstate New York abolition sites.
鈥淭here was a multicultural group of abolitionists including William Seward of Auburn, Gerritt Smith of Peterboro and Frederick Douglass of Rochester, who along with Tubman were active in the Southern Tier and in upstate New York,鈥 said Bailey, 鈥渂ut there is little in the Southern Tier to remind us of their inspirational legacy. This public project will help correct that.鈥
A story of civil rights in 19th-century Binghamton
The remaining markers will be installed at other downtown locations through fall 2023, including at least one planned event with the unveiling of the Bud Fowler memorial marker at its Mirabito Stadium location on Sept. 1. John W. Jackson Jr., better known as 鈥淏ud Fowler,鈥 is one of the first Black players to integrate white professional baseball, predating Jackie Robinson by more than 60 years. Fowler, a 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, played for multiple teams throughout his 20-year career 鈥 including at least two stints with the Binghamton Bingos 鈥 meeting discrimination and intolerance at every stop along the way.
Like Fowler鈥檚, each marker on the Freedom Trail tells a story of individual courage, sacrifice and moral mettle, creating an anthology of late 19th-century abolitionist and civil rights activity in the Southern Tier.
Bailey and Tubman Center Associate Director Sharon Bryant foresee the Freedom Trail developing beyond static historical markers through the implementation of QR codes or engaging interfaces that will create a sensory and interactive educational experience that will benefit local students and teachers and put Binghamton on the map as a historical tourism destination.
鈥淲hen I think about Harriet Tubman, I think about the word 鈥榲ision.鈥欌 Bailey said. 鈥淭his is a word inspired by Tubman, that I carry with me every day. Vision gives you purpose. It gives you hope and the ability to work and live for something bigger than yourself. And Harriet had vision in spades.鈥
黑料视频 is dedicated to the advancement of social justice for all individuals and populations. To that end, a number of institutes and centers have been established to promote research, ideas, communication and critical discourse in areas including human rights; equality for women and girls; and global health, progressive education and well-being for marginalized populations.
Each of these institutes and centers has a specific focus, yet they all exist to raise awareness of issues of historical, systemic injustices, and to explore ways to rise above these injustices to the benefit of the world鈥檚 underrepresented.