Sojourner Truth is a female activist who committed her entire life to defending gender rights and fighting for racial equality. Being born into slavery, her life was nothing short of strenuous. Truth was born in New York in 1797. She was bought and sold on the slave market 4 times, and endured tremendous physical physical punishments that slaves were subject to during this time. As a teenager around 1815, she met another fellow slave, and they had five children together. In 1827 at the age of 29, Sojourner was able to escape with her infant daughter named Sophia, and she lived with a nearby abolitionist family. The Van Wageners housed Truth and her daughter, and eventually bought her freedom from her masters for $20. Her 5 year old son, Peter, was illegally sold on the slave market. The Van Wageners were able to offer help and were successfully able to sue for his return back to her. This made her the first African American woman to win a custody court against a white man.
In 1828, the year that New York passed a law that freed slaves, Sojourner moved to New York City and began working with a minister. She began her career as a religious speaker, and renamed herself "Sojourner Truth", because she spent the rest of her life preaching the truth. The famous abolitionists during this time, William Garrison and Frederick Douglas, encouraged Sojourner to give speeches about the evils and dangers of slavery. In 1850, she released The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, her autobiography. She was assisted by Olive Gilbert during the publication of the novel, since she never learned how to read or write. After the release of her autobiography, she began her women's rights conference in Ohio. During this conference, she released her speech that soon grew in fame, "Ain't I A Woman?"
Truth's "Ain't I A Woman" speech received it's name due to that phrase being mentioned 4 separate times during in order to emphasize the need for equal rights for African American women. Her speech is still considered one of the most inspirational and greatest speeches during the women's abolitionist movement. There were very few African American women who were speaking publicly during this time, yet Truth rightfully earned her respect and became a significant figure during this movement.
Truth found herself riding in white-only streetcars in New York City in order to actively protest racism. A streetcar conductor attempted to block Truth from riding in a very violent manner. She pursued his arrest and won the case. This is a very significant event in her life, because the time during the civil war can be seen as some of the most prejudice times America has faced, and an African American woman winning a lawsuit against a racist streetcar driver is momentous.
Sojourner Truth is an extremely powerful figure during the 19th century. Her efforts in order to receive equal rights for genders and African American people did not go unnoticed. Her speeches are still incredibly relevant today. By sticking to her religious values and beliefs, Truth was able to do everything she can possible during her lifetime to fight for human rights, making her a significant woman's activist in history.
Works Cited:
Cook, M. (2020, March 08). 16 women throughout history who famously fought for equality. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://www.insider.com/women-who-fought-for-rights-2018-8
Michals, E. (n.d.). Sojourner truth. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sojourner-truth
Chang, R. (2020, August 17). Sojourner truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech may not have contained that famous phrase. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://www.biography.com/news/sojourner-truth-aint-i-a-woman-speech
24, A., 25, A., & 26, A. (n.d.). Her words. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://sojournertruthmemorial.org/sojourner-truth/her-words/
Sojourner Truth is most definitely an iconic figure in the fight for women's rights. Not only was she one of the few slaves to win a court case she did it with dignity and extreme perseverance. It is sad to think that this treatment to people of color was even allowed less than 300 yrs ago. Her story helps me realize what I was truly given as someone born into a while household in a predominantly white society. Her speak is still used today and I hope that it is shown to all young women to come so that it may continue to enlighten others as much as it's enlightened me.
ReplyDeleteSojourner Truth’s story speaks to a bravery that inspires change. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it must’ve been as a mother to have to leave her four children behind in order to get her infant out of slavery. Then, after making such a difficult choice, to learn that one of her other children was sold garners enough grief that many people would've easily succumbed to. However, despite the fact that the system was working against her, she was able to win a court case and save her son. Even now, black people are constantly fighting against a system that was built to keep them down. The justice system was not made to work for them but instead to work against them. To see a black woman fight against this when slavery was still alive and well is impressive to say the least, even more so when you find out she did it again in a court case against a racist streetcar conductor. On top of this, she made sure her voice was heard through books and speeches. This was a very dangerous position to be in as a black woman, but she didn’t let that stop her. Truly an inspiring woman. Great job on this and great choice!
ReplyDeleteSojourner Truth someone in American history who holds a bravery and should inspire change to this day. For her to be a mother, a slave, and have her children be sold off as garners would have been the hardest thing that any woman could imagine. Her story showed how she perserveared during very dangerous being a black woman. She was a great choice.
ReplyDelete