The First Annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Birdwalk
June 19th, 2023 | San Diego, CA, United States
On Monday, June 19th, 2023, over 80 people attended WorldBeat Cultural Center’s first annual Juneteenth Harriet Tubman Freedom Walk. The walk included a land acknowledgment, a greeting from a tribal local council member, and a brief history of African American Heritage flags carried throughout the walk. Participants were provided with lists of commonly seen birds in Balboa Park. Throughout the walk on the Canyon Trail in the park, participants identified multiple bird species with the help of Latinx birder Carlos and the Merlin App from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center aims to promote peace and the histories of African and Indigenous diasporas through the arts and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. This event incorporated knowledge from and was led by many people of color from the community for people and families in the San Diego community. During the walk, Kumeyaay ethnobotanist Kristie Orosco gave a tour of native flora, emphasizing environmental conservation. The event concluded with vegan soul food made by those from the WorldBeat Cultural Center, birding trivia led by Black birder and author of Keep Looking Up, Tammah Watts, and a performance of African drumming and dancing by Dramane Kone and troupe.
This event was open to all: “There were single mothers, oceanography researchers, social activists, museum curators, farmers, ethnobotanists, teachers, hospitality workers, wellness coaches, students, and bird enthusiasts,” as well as a local council member and TV coverage! The structure of the event, from celebrating Juneteenth to learning about Indigenous plants and the importance of the environment to watching cultural performances and birding provided a range of activities that engaged people of all backgrounds. In honor of Juneteenth, participants learned more about Harriet Tubman, not just a freedom fighter but also a naturalist. Most people do not know that she used the Barred Owl call as a tool to communicate and to help free her family and other enslaved people. In addition to the connection to Black history, participants were guided by birders and the Merlin app, which helped to identify birds by sight and sound. As a result, participants could identify birds such as Cooper’s Hawk, Anna’s Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, California Towhee, and many more. The Harriet Tubman Freedom Walk provided the community with the opportunity to learn about history, birding, environmental conservation, and culture from a BIPOC perspective – citizen science is for all!
Participants left the event looking forward to another tour. They said they enjoyed using the Merlin app, gaining a deeper understanding of the significance of Juneteenth and Harriet Tubman, the music and food, and being outside and learning about their surroundings. Since the first event in 2023, the WorldBeat Cultural Center has hosted another successful Freedom Day Bird Walk.
Images courtesy of WorldBeat Cultural Center
Page by Caroline Pontaoe