Despite the best efforts of historians of the past, some topics remained hidden from the public eye. The figure of Harriet Tubman recently resurfaced with the resurgence of interest in Black history. The book “Harriet Tubman: A Life in American History” by Kerry Walters attempts to give this person the justice she deserves. The role of Tubman in the history of the United States must be assessed not through the recollections of historians of the past but the collective account of the existing primary evidence (Walters 2020). This paper will review some crucial details regarding the author of the book and his research.
While the information about the author is scarce, I believe that his past works that I examined allow me to call Walters qualified for writing a book about Harriet Tubman. First and foremost, Kerry Walters is a person who is knowledgeable about religion and a devout follower of Protestantism, which is apparent through his church membership and multiple books regarding the topic (“Kerry Walters” n.d.). Faith plays a crucial role in Tubman’s story, making Walters a suitable writer for such a task.
The author’s approach to researching Harriet Tubman is also unique. Unlike many other people who attempted to put her story into a book form, Walters placed the documents from her time above historians’ portrayals and recollections (Walters 2020). The primary sources are letters, newspapers, and official documents whose copies are attached to the book, while historians’ accounts serve only as secondary sources. In conclusion, it was in the best interest of Kerry Walters to portray Harriet Tubman most objectively, as it was the primary goal of his work.
References
“Kerry Walters.” n.d. Prabook.
Walters, Kerry. 2020. Harriet Tubman: A Life in American History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio.