Binghamton Freedom Trail honors Tubman, anti-slavery leaders: What to know about the project

Emily Barnes, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
·3 min read
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Honoring the contributions of marginalized people is the driving force behind a new Binghamton University project planning to leave its mark throughout the city.

Professor Anne Bailey and Dr. Sharon Bryant of BU's Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity joined a multitude of community members at the university's Downtown Center on Friday to unveil the first historical marker of their Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail, which commemorates the abolitionist and civil rights activist.

The project will include a statue of Tubman at the site, at least 12 other historical markers signifying leaders in the Binghamton anti-slavery society, Underground Railroad stops and other anti-slavery sites throughout Binghamton, and the development of programming for five local K-12 public schools.

Anne Bailey and Dr. Sharon Bryant, directors of Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center of Freedom and Equity, unveiled the first of 13 markers to be displayed across Binghamton on Friday, March 10, 2023.
Anne Bailey and Dr. Sharon Bryant, directors of Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center of Freedom and Equity, unveiled the first of 13 markers to be displayed across Binghamton on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Anne Bailey, director of the center and history professor at BU, spoke about Harriet Tubman's vision during a news conference held inside the UDC's lobby Friday. "Vision gives you purpose. It gives you the ability to work and to live for something bigger than yourself. And there is nothing greater than that."

Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity a $400,000 grant to support the project.

And Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced an additional $100,000 from the city to support the project during the news conference Friday.

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The purpose of BU's Harriet Tubman Center

The center's efforts began in September 2019 and a physical location opened on BU's main campus in September 2021 with the intention "to steer the research, writing and programs of the center" toward prioritizing history, education and medicine/STEM fields with equity.

From 2019 to 2021, the center held six listening sessions with community stakeholders through their creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which resulted in 10 recommendations ranging from diversifying the university's police department and faculty to strengthening academic and social support systems for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) students.

Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity unveiled the first of 13 historical markers Friday, March 10, 2023, which will make up the Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail throughout Binghamton.
Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity unveiled the first of 13 historical markers Friday, March 10, 2023, which will make up the Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail throughout Binghamton.

And according to the center's website, they are currently looking for funding opportunities to create a Harriet Tubman Scholars program, which would focus on "diversity, inclusion and leadership development for historically underrepresented students," and a Harriet Tubman Faculty Fellows Program, "allowing faculty members to affiliate with the center for a semester and focus on diversity, equity and inclusion research-related work."

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Project timeline and next steps

In addition to the marker revealed Friday, 12 other markers will create the Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail extending east from the Chenango River to the Stadium District in Binghamton.

A statue of Tubman will also be erected behind the UDC and the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the final design after the five finalists debut their models on April 20, Bailey said.

The project should be completed by the end of the spring 2024 semester, Bailey said, with all of the historical markers installed by the end of 2023.

The first of 13 historical markers, part of the newly established Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail throughout Binghamton, was unveiled outside of Binghamton University's Downtown Center on Friday, March 10, 2023.
The first of 13 historical markers, part of the newly established Harriet Tubman Freedom Trail throughout Binghamton, was unveiled outside of Binghamton University's Downtown Center on Friday, March 10, 2023.

The next historical marker will be placed outside of Mirabito Stadium on Sept. 1, honoring professional baseball player Bud Fowler. Fowler played for the Binghamton Bingos in 1887 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his hometown of Cooperstown in 2022.

And while Bailey intends to make this trail accessible for all people, she hopes to inspire the younger generation through field trips to the trail.

"It's not enough just to venerate these heroes of the past and present," Bailey said. "We are very explicit in wanting to integrate this into our social studies curriculum but also to energize young people of every kind of background. We want to energize them to think about what role will they play. What vision will they have for the future."

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton University Harriet Tubman project to honor sites and leaders