The performer known as Bob the Drag Queen is no stranger to pushing boundaries, whether through his hilarious antics that scored him the crown on the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race or through his musical performances that blend humor with heart.
But his latest endeavor takes him into the world of literature, and more specifically, the historical narrative of revered abolitionist Harriet Tubman, one of the most influential Black female figures in American history.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of telling a well-known story through an unexpected lens,” Bob shares during a recent phone call. “I love Harriet Tubman, and I love hip-hop music, so I wanted to blend these two passions in a way that felt right but also fun and freeing.”
His new book, “Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert,” is an innovative mix of history, creativity, and music, reflecting both his deep connection to Tubman’s story and his ability to blend art with activism.
The book’s premise is as bold as it is unique: imagine Harriet Tubman, the legendary abolitionist, as a hip-hop artist releasing an album. It’s an unlikely concept, but for Bob, it’s the perfect way to explore Tubman’s journey while making her legacy feel relevant to today’s world. As Lin-Manuel Miranda did with “Hamilton,” his wildly successful Broadway musical that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, Bob’s idea began as a musical theater production but quickly evolved into a novel—one that explores the intersection of history and music, giving readers a fresh perspective on an extraordinary woman. The concept is inspired, in part, by James McBride’s novel “The Good Lord Bird,” which tells the story of John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry.
“I originally started writing it as a musical, imagining it like a concert—think ‘Hedwig’ or ‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.’ But when I tried to translate that into a book, I realized it was challenging to stretch a single concert into a full-length novel. That’s when I had the idea to shift the focus. I thought it would be more interesting to explore the process of creating an album rather than just focusing on the concert itself. And that’s how the book came to life.”
Bob’s had a lot on his plate in recent years, like touring with Madonna on The Celebration Tour and hosting three podcasts a week, including “Sibling Rivalry” and “Town Hall: A Black Queer Podcast.” He lost the Atlanta home he bought for his mother, uncle and nephew to a fire last January, and his mother, Martha Caldwell, passed away last year on Mother’s Day. Finding time to write wasn’t easy.
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And yet, the idea of blending Harriet Tubman’s story with music kept him motivated. “It was tough to carve out time to write, but I made it work,” Bob admits. “It took me four years to finish, and while some might not think that’s too long, I honestly didn’t expect it to take that long. I missed a lot of deadlines along the way trying to get it done.”
His commitment to the project grew as he continued to weave together Tubman’s remarkable life with the themes of freedom and resilience that are central to both her story and his own.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Bob’s book is how he balances historical accuracy with creative license. Bob acknowledges that while he is not a historian, he spent considerable time researching Harriet Tubman’s life to ensure the story remained true to history. Yet, he also wanted to give himself the space to be creative, ensuring that the book would not only inform but entertain. “I did my research, but I’m not a historian,” Bob says with a laugh. “The book is about making history come alive in a way that feels fun, accessible, and relevant.”
Bob’s research into Tubman’s life uncovered a woman whose strength and perseverance often went overlooked. “I don’t think we give Harriet Tubman enough credit for what she overcame,” he reflects. Tubman’s life was defined by hardship, from the disabilities she endured after a traumatic head injury at 13 years old to escaping slavery to her extraordinary feats of bravery as she led enslaved people to freedom using the Underground Railroad.
But rather than focusing solely on the struggles, Bob uses his platform to show Tubman as a symbol of hope and resilience.
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“When people first hear about the book, it might sound like an SNL sketch—a big, goofy joke. But it’s actually deeply respectful. We tackle real issues and important topics. For me, writing about this, I wanted to honor what my ancestors endured so I could have the life I do today, to even write a book this absurd. I want people to think, but I’m not sure what they’ll take from it. Everyone will interpret it differently. What I know for sure is that reading the book was a completely different experience than writing it. Some moments even surprised me—I forgot I’d written certain things, and when I read them back, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s profound.’”
In keeping with the theme of reimagining history, two original songs are featured in the audiobook version of the novel, underscoring the book’s musical influence. “The book is about music, and I wanted to create something that felt like a natural extension of what I love to do,” Bob shares. The inclusion of hip-hop is intentional, designed to engage younger generations with history in a way that feels fresh and energetic. The audiobook will include “Queen of the Underground,” as well as “Now I See,” a song Bob notes that is inspired by the moment Tubman first realized her ability to stand up for herself, witnessing her mother defend her younger brother.
“It felt important to include music because, at its core, this is a book about music. I thought to myself, ‘I have to make sure this is out there.’ Ultimately, I realized that I’m creating the kind of content I would want to consume.”
As Bob is now out on the road for his book tour, with a stop in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 29 at NeueHouse Hollywood, he’s making sure to honor the communities that have supported him throughout his career. His book tour will feature readings, musical performances, and intimate conversations, with a special focus on supporting Black-owned independent bookstores. “These are spaces where we can build community and foster growth,” Bob says.
Ultimately, Bob’s goal with “Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert” is not just to educate but to inspire. He hopes the book will encourage readers to explore the stories of historical figures in new ways.
“Hopefully, one day I’ll be controversial enough to get banned,” he shares. “Maybe I’ll be banned from a national library, that would be an honor, right up there with being a New York Times bestseller. But what I really hope is that people learn something about Harriet Tubman. I hope this book inspires someone else to write their own story about a person they admire, someone whose contributions to this country have moved them.”