February is Black History/Heritage Month, and it is now being recognized and celebrated throughout the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Among the variety of festive and reflective activities happening in our Hidalgo County area is the second annual "Walking Southern Roads to Freedom."

The 65-mile, seven-day walk experience shared by many in 2025 was truly inspiring and memorable as asymbolic pilgrimage in honor of enslaved African descendants fleeing south in pursuit of safe havens in the Rio Grande Valley and in the border cities of Mexico. The walk also focused attention on those who opened their hearts and homes to freedom-seekers, sheltering some and transporting others safely across the Rio Grande.

This year's "Freedom Walk" will be shorter in duration and distance. Beginning on Friday morning, February 27, the three-day (24 miles total) walk will start in the City of Alamo, and end in the City of Reynosa, Mexico on March 1.

Representatives from the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, MD will return to the Rio Grande Valley for the second annual “Walking Southern Roads to Freedom” event.

Dr. Raymond Howard, founder of the South Texas African Heritage Network (STAHN) 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.”

He said the plans for the second annual walk began immediately after the success of last year’s event. Several local community groups that are preserving the Valley’s rich history concerning people of color continue to be 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 will return to the Rio Grande Valley again this year to walk the pathways to freedom to honor those who dared to be free.

This year, participants will walk 24 miles during the three days. The walk will include several historic sites and landmarks within Hidalgo County, such as City of Alamo Central Park, the Webber Ranch Cemetery, the Jackson Ranch Church and Eli Jackson cemetery. 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 begin with a celebration and concert at Bethel Garden Park in the La Paloma neighborhood in McAllen on Thursday evening, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. The event will end with the crossing of the international bridge to commemorate Mexico’s role in the underground walk to freedom. Participants will cross the Hidalgo-McAllen International Bridge and to the City of Reynosa to offer friendship across the border and learn more about successful freedom efforts on March 1.

For more information Dr. Raymond Howard at ray1alexmason@gmail.com and for registration, please visit bit.ly/registertowalking or contact Dr. Debra Stark Howard at dlstark1220@gmail.com