Keep Your Head Up: Let the North Star Lead Us
UpLift Chronicles reflects on the revolutionary legacy of Harriet Tubman and her guiding light, Polaris, alongside the vital importance of defining our own North Star goals.
by Samantha Anne Carrillo
The North Star has always been more than just a celestial body. Fixed in the sky, unshaken by time, it has long guided explorers, dreamers, and the lost toward something greater. For abolitionist Harriet Tubman, it was a literal lifeline to freedom, a guiding force that could be counted on through even the darkest nights.
Light in the Darkness
Born into slavery in 1822, Tubman understood oppression not as an abstraction, but as a daily, brutal reality. Escape seemed impossible, but Tubman found something immovable to guide her: the North Star.
With neither literacy nor a formal education, she read the natural world instead—tracking rivers, listening to the wind, and always moving toward Polaris, which pointed to freedom. Tubman’s heroism was not just about finding her own way. She returned again and again to lead others northward, navigating forests, swamps, and the ever-present danger of slave catchers.
Direction in Uncertain Times
At the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC), we believe setting clear North Star goals can help us all navigate modern challenges and create a more just, resilient society. These guiding principles serve as a steady light in turbulent times, ensuring that our progress does not falter, even when the road ahead remains uncertain.
Defining Your North Star
Finding a personal North Star means figuring out what truly matters to you. Is it justice, ensuring that marginalized voices are amplified? Is it truth, challenging misinformation and rewriting narratives that exclude Black and multicultural contributions? Is it community, building systems of support for those who have been historically overlooked?
Lessons from Tubman
Tubman’s journey holds potent lessons for anyone striving for change. Whether you are an activist, an educator, a leader, or simply someone trying to find direction, consider the following principles:
Stay Focused – Tubman never wavered, despite bounty hunters and unimaginable dangers. In today’s world, distractions abound, but commitment to a higher purpose ensures steady progress.
Help Others Find Their Way – Freedom was never just about Tubman; she risked everything to return and lead others. In our present fight for equality, uplifting others and standing up for our core values remains just as vital.
Trust in the Unseen but Certain – The North Star was always there, even when it was obscured by clouds. Likewise, having faith in truth, justice, and community can sustain us through adversity.
Keep Moving Forward – Tubman famously said, "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going." Her words remind us that even when the road seems impassable, progress follows unrelenting determination.
Moving Toward Light
The journey is long, and the road is uncertain. But the North Star never falters, and we can draw inspiration from its constancy. The future is unwritten, and the pen is in our hands.
So, what is your North Star? And, more importantly, will you follow it?
The above is an excerpt from “Reaching Higher Ground: Harriet Tubman, NMBLC & the OVERground Road Ahead,” originally published on Feb. 12, 2025, as part of NMBLC’s Black History Month collaboration with The Paper.