Harriet: Black Bodies Fearfully Made - Black Church (Psalm 139:13-16)

In the depths of a moonless night, Harriet Tubman stood at a crossroads. The air was thick with humidity, the scent of damp earth mingling with the distant sound of crickets. Each breath she took echoed the heartbeats of countless souls she sought to free, those whose lives were bound by the shackles of slavery. Yet, in her spirit, she carried an unwavering truth: she was fearfully and wonderfully made.

In the Black Church, Psalm 139 was not just a passage; it was a lifeline, sung fervently in the dimly lit sanctuaries where hope ignited like a flickering candle. “You formed my inward parts,” they would cry, a declaration that resonated with the weight of generations. It was a proclamation that Black bodies, crafted by the hands of the Creator, could never be reduced to mere property. Each note carried defiance against the oppressive voices that sought to dehumanize them, a powerful reminder that every enslaved person was divinely designed, every lynched body a testament to God's artistry.

Imagine the scene: a congregation swaying in rhythm, their voices rising in unison to declare their worth against a world that viewed them as less than human. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” The words reverberated through the rafters, a powerful affirmation that cut through despair. Harriet’s daring escapes were not just physical journeys; they were spiritual declarations of identity and dignity, a bold statement that her freedom was an undeniable testament to the truth that had always been hers.

As she crossed the threshold into liberty, Harriet embodied the promise of Psalm 139—a vibrant, living reminder that every oppressed soul bears the divine mark of creation. In that sacred knowledge, she found strength, and in that strength, she pulled her people closer to the freedom that was theirs by divine right. Each step she took was a reclaiming of identity, a march toward the fulfillment of a truth that echoed through the ages: we are fearfully and wonderfully made.