Representatives from the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, MD. will participate in the Rio Grande Valley’s first “Walking Southern Roads to Freedom” event from March 3 to March 9.

Roseann Bacha-Garza, manager of the CHAPS program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said the event’s goal is to “increase awareness about the resilience and resolve of freedom seekers of African ancestry who participated in underground railroad-like activities from south Texas to Mexico, as well as bring awareness to the valuable shared history of our region.”

She said the plans for the walk began after the Valley received a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom designation for the Jackson Ranch Church and Martin Jackson Cemetery. Several local community groups that are preserving the Valley’s rich history concerning people of color have also been actively involved in planning the event.

Linda Harris, director of programming activities at the Harriet Tubman Museum Educational Center, has organized many “walks to freedom” events in several states. She said she wanted to walk the pathways to freedom in the Rio Grande Valley to honor those who dared to be free.

Participants will walk more than 60 miles during the seven days. The walk will include several historic sites and landmarks within Hidalgo County, such as La Sal del Rey, the Restlawn African American Historic Cemetery, the City of Alamo Central Park, the Webber Ranch Cemetery, the Jackson Ranch Church and Martin and Eli Jackson cemeteries and the Bethel Garden Community Park. Bacha-Garza said that during the walk, participants will also learn important aspects of Black history. Each day will end with moments of reflection, songs and friendship.

The event will also include a stop in Mexico to commemorate Mexico’s role in the underground walk to freedom. Bacha-Garza explained that participants will cross the Hidalgo-McAllen International Bridge to the “Plaza Principal” in Reynosa to offer friendship across the border and learn more about successful freedom efforts on March 8.

The event will end on Sunday, March 9, with a celebration and concert at Bethel Garden Park in the La Paloma neighborhood in McAllen.
For more information, contact Harris at campharriet1913@gmail.com or call (310) 310-3296. You may also contact Bacha-Garza at roseann.bachagarza@utrgv.edu or call (956) 578-5083.

CAPTION: One of the stops of the Walk to Freedom will be La Sal del Rey. (Photo by Dora Martinez)