From left, Shawndell Fraser, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Brendan Mills, Felicity Contreras, Yolanda Bostic Williams, Lesa Cline-Ransome, James Ransome and Martha Swan cut the ribbon on the Harriet Tubman statue at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site Friday, July 5. The statue is titled “The Beacon of Hope” and was created by Wesley Wofford. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

John Brown and Harriet Tubman were symbolically reconnected on Friday afternoon, July 5, at John Brown’s Farm with the unveiling of “The Beacon of Hope,” a 13-foot-tall bronze statue of Tubman created by and on loan from North Carolina sculptor Wesley Wofford. In the region, while vacationing with her family, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand participated in the unveiling.

Nearly 200 years ago, John Brown and Harriet Tubman first met on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in St. Catharine’s, Ontario. Impressed, Brown dubbed Tubman “General” and described her as one of the best and bravest persons on the planet. Tubman felt that she had already met Brown in a dream she had. They felt a faith-based kinship and shared a belief that men and women, Black and white, were all equal and deserving of equal rights. They both desired to end slavery and later on, Tubman assisted Brown in planning his Harpers Ferry raid.

Martha Swan, founder and director of John Brown Lives!, the official friends group of the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, said that the exhibiting “The Beacon of Hope” was well over a year and a half in the planning. Swan is not sure whether Wofford’s wife Odyssey reached out to her or she to them when she first heard about the artwork, but she said it took many hands to make it possible.

“We were in conversation with Parks well over a year ago to get permission for its temporary installation at the farm,” said Swan. “And then we had to raise the funds to cover the cost of transportation, installation, rental fees and dedication expenses. There were so many hands and eyes on all aspects of this down to the smallest detail, such as making root beer and apple pie available, examples of the food Tubman created and used to fortify people and raise money for her various causes.”

The Lake Placid Public Library, North Elba LEAF, Stewart’s/Duke Family Foundation and Humanities New York made possible the sculpture’s residency and the aligned programming throughout the summer. Martha and Shawndel Fraser co-organized the residency activities.

Shawndel Fraser and Martha Swan, co-organizers of the Harriet Tubman program on July 5. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

In his artist’s statement about “The Beacon of Hope,” Wofford wrote, “It is our hope that generations of children and adults alike will find the inspiration and courage to walk in her footsteps and draw strength from the powerful story of one of our great American heroes, finding it within themselves to become ‘The Beacon of Hope’ for others.”

Wollford’s goals were achieved as speaker after speaker said Tubman inspired hope and a determination to make a difference, and further, that John Brown’s home was the perfect place for sharing that message.

The dedication began with Martha Swan providing welcoming remarks and acknowledging that New York was a slave state from shortly after its founding until 1827 when slavery was officially rendered illegal and ended, though, for many decades after, New York and other cities remained “Jim Crow” racially segregated.

Felicity Contreras, 10, a homeschooler who participated in a history day at the farm several weeks ago, shared her research on Tubman, outlining Tubman’s history from a young girl through her many challenges and accomplishments over her long life. Later, Felicity said she was very inspired by Tubman, that with effort, anyone can make a difference, and that she too wanted to have a life of service, of uplifting others.

Award-winning author Leas Cline-Ransome and illustrator James Ransome then shared how they created their children’s book, “Before She Was Harriet,” no easy task with so many books about Tubman already published, but succeed they did, later participating in a book signing hosted by The Bookstore Plus.

Author Leas Cline-Ransome and illustrator James Ransome, who created the children’s book “Before She Was Harriet,” attend the July 5 event. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Shawndel Fraser welcomed everyone to the “The Beacon of Hope,” sited near the pond separating the barn from the farmhouse and gravesite. Fraser began by suggesting questions that the attendees should ask themselves, such as, “Why are you here today? Is it a love for John Brown? For sister Harriet? What do you think about Harriet Tubman’s deeds and accomplishments? John Brown’s?”

“Earlier, Martha mentioned the radical faith of these two as spiritual siblings,” said Fraser. “I think they acted from a deep abiding sense of love, which can be paralleled with faith, where love is at the heart.”

Fraser shared a quote from the 1977 Combahee River Collective Statement: “If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all systems of oppression.”

Fraser went on to say that true freedom requires eliminating the belief that we are separate and different, the fear of the other.

“I respect, admire, and love John Brown and Harriet Tubman because of their courage and faith to live according to the god of their hearts that called and compelled them to action, and because they served those they did not know,” she said.

Allison Heard and attendee of the event holds hands with Harriet Tubman on July 5. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“Harriet Tubman is an inspiration and role model,” said Gillibrand. “As Shawndel said, Tubman was a person of deep faith. But her ability to care more about others than herself made her an extraordinary human being. When I researched her, her empathy really struck me, her ability to feel how other people are feeling. As Shawndel said, what are we doing to help others? Are we loving others as we would want to be loved? Do we welcome the stranger? Are we caring for our neighbors? Those are the lessons of Harriet’s and John’s faith, and they are not very present in modern-day discourse, how we look at our neighbors, and the challenges we are facing.”

Gillibrand urged people to think deeply about the lessons we can learn from Brown and Tubman, what we can do for others, and how we can follow Tubman’s path; she hoped that people would view Tubman’s presence and deeds as a call to action.

“The statue of Harriet represents a lot of history,” said Allison Heard. “With that history comes a lot of lingering trauma, sadness, and pain. ‘The Beacon of Hope’ reminds us that no matter what trauma or bad history lingers, there are always opportunities for hope. We have to pass down these stories of love and being our neighbors’ keepers through our families and children. What gives me hope is the diversity of people and the number of kids here today.”

“Odyssey and Wesley Wollford have told us that you may step up on the pedestal, you can hold Harriet’s hand, and this sculpture isn’t untouchable,” said Swan. “Harriet’s here for us and to be reunited in spirit and in our hearts.”

As part of John Brown Lives! summer series, Brown biographer Louis DeCaro Jr., will shed light on the friendship and radical faith of Harriet Tubman and John Brown in an evening lecture at 5 p.m. Monday, July 15 in the lower barn of the John Brown Farm State Historic Site. The talk is free and open to all.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the Lake Placid News for more than 15 years.)