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TUBMAN-GARRETT RIVERFRONT PARK
Tubman-Garrett Park
By
Charles E. Brittingham
Mr. Purzycki, it has been
suggested by the Riverfront Development Corporation that
tourists might be more inclined to visit the park if it were
named Riverfront Park rather than after Tubman and Garrett.
We take the opposite position and feel tourism would thrive
if named after Tubman and Garrett because of Wilmington’s
and Delaware’s role in the importance of the Underground
Railroad Network.
Another thrust that
demonstrates the significance of Tubman, Garrett and the
Underground Railroad is the recent signing of H.R. 1635 by
President Clinton on July 21, 1998 of the Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom Act creating the linkage of
hundreds of UGRR sites across 29 states. The Riverfront
Development Corporation can use this opportunity to name the
park in memory of Tubman and Garrett to assure the position
of Wilmington in history as a crucial “Stop” on this
remarkable “Train” to freedom, where people were led usually
by night following the North Star. The Underground Railroad
is a true story of great courage and compassion of people
coming together, Black and White to secure for every
American the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
People cannot and should not
ignore that slavery played a significant part in the
development of this country. Everyone knows that we, as
Black people were torn from our Motherland, Africa and sold
like cattle to the highest bidder and forced by
imprisonment, physical abuse, rape and threat of death to
perform free labor; All the time being separated from our
children, husbands and wives, while our history and culture
was being destroyed, stolen and lost. These events happened
and cannot be ignored or wished away.
The naming of the park after
Tubman and Garrett will memorialize these two freedom
fighters in the history of the Wilmington, Delaware
Waterfront area.
I welcome the opportunity to
answer any questions you may have concerning this issue.
Thank You.
Charles E. Brittingham,
President
NAACP Delaware State
Conference of Branches |
