D.C. community celebrates Harriet Tubman Day

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March 12, 2024

By Kimyatta Newby, AFRO

Jessica Faith (left), Ernestine "Tina" Wyatt, Dr. Edda Fields-Black and Lieutenant General (Retired) Scott Dingle educate the community during a program to honor Harriet Tubman program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. — Jessica Faith (left), Ernestine “Tina” Wyatt, Dr. Edda Fields-Black and Lieutenant General (Retired) Scott Dingle educate the community during a program to honor Harriet Tubman program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. (AFRO Photo / Kimyatta Newby)

In efforts to sustain the legacy of Harriet Tubman, the legendary abolitionist’s great-great-great grandniece Enerstine Tina Wyatt has made it her personal mission to spread the true history of her aunt.

Wyatt is a co-founder of the Harriet Tubman Day Washington District of Columbia (HTDWDC). After four years of hosting, Wyatt had developed a partnership with the National Archives to host an event officially but public lockdown restrictions of COVID-19 moved the event to a virtual setting. By 2021 and 2022, Wyatt was invited to public events honoring elder Tubman. By 2023, she was able to host the event in person.

This year, on March 2, Wyatt hosted the annual Harriet Tubman Day celebrations at Westminster Presbyterian Church for the second time. This event included refreshments, special guest speakers such as Caleb Camara, the associate director of the Mayor’s Office of African American Affairs and performances.

Wyatt stated the purpose of Harriet Tubman Day events is to interact with alternative learning, a “Celebrate to Educate” ceremony is how she referred to it.

The original article has more details.

Tubman was also important in New York.

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