Fighting for Freedom: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and the Civil War

As part of The Henry Ford’s annual recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black will discuss her new book, COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War. Through this groundbreaking research, learn how Tubman, the intelligence she gathered, and her ring of spies, scouts and pilots played a central role in the Combahee River Raid, one of the most dramatic episodes of the Civil War and the largest and most successful slave rebellion in U.S. history.

The program will be introduced by Heather Bruegl (Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee), Curator of Political and Civic Engagement at The Henry Ford, and followed by a brief audience Q&A and book signing, with the opportunity to purchase a copy of COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War.

This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required. Seats are limited.

Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black is an award-winning historian, artist, and public humanities scholar who specializes in technology and labor in West Africa and the U.S. South. Her passion is uncovering voices that are not recorded in written sources and have not been previously heard and telling stories that heretofore have not been told.

Fields-Black's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War, is the first detailed account of one of the most dramatic episodes of the Civil War, a raid the U.S. Army conducted on seven rice plantations in the South Carolina Lowcountry in June 1863. The Combahee River Raid was based on intelligence gathered by Harriet Tubman who worked as a Union spy. It resulted in 756 enslaved people liberating themselves, the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. COMBEE is based on original documents in which freedom seekers who liberated themselves in the Raid tell their life stories in their own words. Fields-Black is a direct descendant of a formerly enslaved man who fought in the Raid, as well as Blacks enslaved on the Combahee area who were not liberated in the Raid.

Fields-Black also translates her historical research into artistic platforms. She took "history off the shelf and put it on stage,"; writing libretto for Unburied, Unmourned, Unmarked: Requiem for Rice (with three-time EMMY™ Award-winning classical music composer, John Wineglass), the first full symphonic work about slavery, and serving as executive producer for the project. Fields-Black also has worked as a consultant for permanent exhibits, "Rice Fields of South Carolina"; at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and "Carolina Gold"; at the International African American Museum, and "From Slavery to Freedom"; at the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Seats are limited.

There is a maximum of six registrants per entry. Registrants will receive confirmation and event reminders via email. Please show these confirmations upon entry to the event.

Registration will close if capacity is reached.

Doors will open to Anderson Theater at 1:30 p.m. The program will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by a brief Q&A and book signing.

This is a free public event; museum admission is not required.

Free parking is available in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation lot off Oakwood Boulevard near the museum Welcome Center. The Clocktower entrance on the brick circle drive may be used for pickup/drop-off for guests who need special assistance.

Please note that parts of Oakwood Boulevard may be impacted by construction. Be prepared for traffic delays or detours. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Henry Ford is committed to making our events accessible to everyone.

• Anderson Theater's main floor is fully accessible. The second floor balcony is accessible via stairs only.
• This event will be ASL interpreted.

If you require an additional accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact our accessibility team via email at accessibility@thehenryford.org.

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