Salute To Excellence | Digital Program Booklet 2025-26 - Journal - Page 17
Biography of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross; c.1820 - 10 March 1913) was an African-American
abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the U.S. Civil War. After escaping from
captivity, she made thirteen missions to rescue over seventy slaves using the network of
antislavery activists and safe houses known as theUnderground Railroad. She later helped
John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era struggled for
women’s suffrage. Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman was beaten
and whipped by her various owners as a child.
HARRIET TUBMAN
The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the raid on the
Combahee River, which liberated more than seven hundred slaves. After the war, she retired
to the family home in Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents. She was
active in the women’s suffrage movement until illness overtook her and she had to be
admitted to a home for elderly African-Americans she had helped open years earlier. After
she died in 1913, she became an icon of American courage and freedom.
HARRIET TUBMAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
DYOTHA R. SWEAT
Dyotha Rene’ Sweat is a native of Paterson, New Jersey where she was educated in the
Passaic County school system and had the honor and privilege of being educated by the late
Principal Dr. Joe Clark. After high school, President Sweat enlisted in the United States
Navy in 1986, where she would serve honorably for 24 years.
President Sweat’s distinguished military career includes several notable accomplishments for
women serving in the United States military. In 1996, by the Executive order of President
Clinton, President Sweat along with 20 female Sailors were assigned to the USS Vella Gulf
(CG72) as the part of the integration of female Sailors to the guided cruiser class warship.
Additionally, in 2005, President Sweat reported to the USS STETHEM (DDG 63) to
integrate as its first Female Chief Petty Officer assigned where she served as Female Advisor
and EEO to the Commander Officer.
DYOTHA R. SWEAT
President’s Sweat advocacy work spans several years in the Southern Maryland Region.
Prior to becoming president of the Charles County Branch in 2019 at the 2016 MSC
convention she initiated a resolution to address missing person ages 19-64 with the missing
of 19-year-old Ashanti Billie which would be adopted at the national convention. This
resolution would be in support of legislation presented to Congress to enact the Ashanti
Alert system of 2018. She also served as Maryland State Conference (MSC) NAACP Youth
and College Division Advisor from 2016-2023.
As branch President, her advocacy work entails the following: the dismantling of the
Alternative Charles County school program Fresh Start Academy, Organized Charles
County PS bus drivers to unionize, supported students of Cracker Barrel discrimination
incident by meeting with Corporate Leadership and setting up meeting with Maryland
Commission for Civil Right and the Office of the Attorney Generals. Lead the Healthy Kids
Campaign which mandates through legislation that chain restaurants will office a healthy
meal option on the kid’s menu.
During the 116th NAACP National convention she was appointed as the NAACP Southern
Md state representative for Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s
Counties. President Sweat received the following awards in recognition for her dedicated
community service: 2017 - Female Veteran of the Year – Boots 2 Heels Organization; 2019 Dream Team Award – Maryland State Conference NAACP; 2020 - Hall of Fame recipient –
SMC TLOD; 2023 – Benjamin Hooks Keeper of the Flame – National NAACP Labor
award; 2025 – 2025 Montague Cobb Health Equity Award – accepted on behalf of the
CCNAACP at the116th NAACP Convention
She is charter member for National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) section of Charles
County and National Coalition for 100 Black Women (NCBW) Southern Maryland
Chapter. President Sweat holds a BA in Sociology and MBA in Information System
Management. She is currently a cybersecurity professional with a US Department of Navy
contracting company.
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