National Park Service restores Harriet Tubman feature on webpage after criticism over removal
The National Park Service has recently restored a webpage dedicated to the Underground Railroad to its original state after it was altered to remove abolitionist leader Harriet Tubman from the top of the page. This change was made without approval from NPS or Department leadership and was quickly rectified once it was brought to their attention.
The webpage, titled “What is the Underground Railroad?” originally featured a photo of Harriet Tubman and a quote from her, highlighting her role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom. However, in early February, the page was modified to replace Tubman with a collage of Postal Service Underground Railroad commemorative stamps, emphasizing “Black/White Cooperation” instead. The text was also altered to focus on the Underground Railroad as a bridge for unity rather than resistance to enslavement.
Additionally, references to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 were removed, along with historical accounts of enslaved individuals fighting for freedom and a mural of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. These elements have now been reinstated to their original form.
The NPS is a bureau of the Department of the Interior, and there are reports that political appointees within the Interior Department directed senior officials to identify webpages for changes, which were then reviewed for potential alterations. However, it is unclear whether these directives directly led to the removal of specific content from the Underground Railroad page.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Bernice King were among those who spoke out against the removal of Harriet Tubman from the webpage. They emphasized the importance of honoring Tubman’s legacy and recognizing the struggles of enslaved individuals in American history.
A recent investigation by the Washington Post highlighted these changes within the NPS, revealing alterations to language on various webpages to downplay racially charged moments in history or remove references to slavery altogether. This trend is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from government websites.
In a similar incident, the Department of Defense admitted to mistakenly removing content related to Jackie Robinson’s Army service and other DEI-related information from its sites. Actress Viola Davis, who is set to portray Harriet Tubman in an upcoming HBO biopic, expressed her dismay over the edits, stating that they were diminishing Tubman’s significance and the history of slavery.
The restoration of the Underground Railroad webpage to its original state underscores the importance of accurately representing historical events and figures, especially those related to the struggle for freedom and equality. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to preserve and honor the legacy of those who fought against oppression and injustice.
