A quiet yet significant change to a National Parks Service webpage is drawing attention for what it removed and what replaced it. Harriet Tubman, long celebrated as the most iconic figure associated with the Underground Railroad, was taken off a government site that once honored her leadership and sacrifice.
The original version of the National Parks’ Underground Railroad page prominently featured Tubman’s image and a quote highlighting her role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom. It also included direct references to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and the harsh realities faced by those seeking liberation.
But sometime between January 21 and March 19, 2025, that changed. A comparison using the Wayback Machine shows that Tubman’s presence was erased. Gone were her image and her words. Also missing were mentions of “enslaved people” and the laws that fueled the creation of the Underground Railroad.
In their place, the revised webpage now leads with an image of commemorative stamps featuring various civil rights leaders. The updated text introduces the Underground Railroad not through the lens of slavery or resistance, but instead with phrases like “Black/White Cooperation” and “American ideals of liberty and freedom.”
The changes were first reported by The Washington Post and have since sparked debate over how American history is being presented on official platforms. By shifting the focus away from the brutal history of slavery and the courageous efforts of people like Tubman, critics say the updated page risks whitewashing a pivotal chapter in Black American history.
These edits are an attack from the Trump administration regarding DEI by removing discussions around race, slavery, and civil rights.
As educators, historians, and activists push for more accurate and inclusive storytelling, many are calling for the restoration of Tubman’s rightful place on the National Parks site and in the national conversation.
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