Harriet

In 1849 Maryland, a slave state, Araminta "Minty" Ross is newly married to freedman John Tubman. Minty is herself still a slave on the Brodess farm, along with her mother and sister. Reverend Green finishes his sermon advising obedience and to follow the Lord's will. Her father, also a freedman, approaches Brodess with evidence that Minty's mother Harriet "Rit" Ross was to have been freed when she was 45, and her children born free. Brodess angrily refuses to acknowledge this. In despair, Minty prays for God to kill Brodess and is caught by Brodess' adult son Gideon, who castigates her. When Brodess dies shortly afterward, Gideon offers Minty for sale. Minty, who suffers "spells" since being struck in the head as a girl, has a vision of herself escaping to freedom. She decrees these scenes as visions from God and decides to escape. John offers to accompany Minty, but she leaves him behind, fearing he would lose his freedom if caught with her. She meets with her father who tells her to go to Reverend Green for help with her journey.