New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today spoke about the life and legacy of Harriet Ross Tubman at a ceremony co-naming a portion of Fulton Street in Brooklyn after the legendary abolitionist. The event took place on March 10, a day that the New York State legislature in 2003 officially named "Harriet Tubman Day" in New York State to focus on Ms. Tubman's legacy and achievements.

Comptroller Thompson praised New York City Councilman Albert Vann for serving as a driving force behind designating a portion of Fulton Street to be co-named “Harriet Tubman Avenue.” The stretch of Fulton that has been designated for co-naming runs from Rockaway Avenue to Elm Place.

Thompson addressed those who attended the event. Among his prepared remarks:

Every man, woman or child of every race who looks up at the street signs bearing Harriet Tubman’s name is instantly reminded of her great life and legacy. Every time we look at these signs, we may be reminded that while Tubman was born into slavery she escaped to Philadelphia as a young woman.

We are reminded that Tubman became one of the most important “conductors” on the Underground Railroad, eventually leading more than 300 slaves to safety. We are reminded further of her heroic efforts during the Civil War, including her participation in an 1863 raid that led to the freedom of more than 700 slaves.

Down the length of Harriet Tubman Avenue, from Elm Place to Rockaway Avenue, members of our community will be reminded of these and other contributions of Ms. Tubman each and every day. Our senior citizens will be reminded of causes fought and won.

A child waiting for a light to change will glance up and see Tubman’s name. Returning home, kids might ask their parents, “Mom, who was Harriet Tubman? Dad, why does Fulton Street have two names?” And their parents will share the rich history of Harriet Tubman’s life and example with their children.

They will share the fact that Harriet Tubman was revered as “Moses” by the slaves she led to safety. They will share how Tubman paused as she first crossed the Mason-Dixon line to safety at the age of 19 and “looked at my hands to see if I were the same person.”

They will share the 18 times Harriet Tubman returned to the south, despite a $40,000 bounty that had been place on her head, to emancipate more people like herself. They will share how she led her parents to the safety of Auburn, New York, where Tubman made her own home until her death in 1913.

In sum, they will share the rich history of this inspiring, brave woman who lived her life as an example to us all.

It is no wonder that Frederick Douglass observed that with the exception of John Brown, he knew of no one “who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people” more than Harriet Tubman.

There could be no more fitting way of celebrating Harriet Tubman Day than the unveiling of these street signs and the joyous inauguration of Harriet Ross Tubman Avenue.

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