Black History Month: Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth is my favorite historical figure–period. She fought for freedom for the slaves. In addition, she was  the first prominent African-American directly associated with the women’s suffrage movement. Not only was she a famous abolitionist, she also had a large impact on the women’s movement. She was a very sought-after orator on anti-slavery and women’s rights lecture circuits even though she couldn’t read.

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree. She was separated from her parents when she was nine years old; she was sold to John Nealy for one hundred dollars. Sojourner was beaten a lot because she couldn’t understand the English language; therefore, a lot of her master’s demands could not be carried out. One morning her master beat her with a bundle of rods that had been in the fire. With her hands bound, he beat her until her skin was lacerated and blood flowed from the wounds. She endured a lot of pain which, in turn, made her even stronger.

Sojourner’s trials and tribulations made her a very courageous, hardworking, and determined woman. Her mother taught her early on that God lived in the sky and watched over all. If she was ever in trouble or needed help, she called on God. Although Sojourner Truth was illiterate, she memorized Bible passages that she heard. She quoted from the Bible a lot. She realized right away that the white slave owners were using the Bible to legitimize slavery.

Here is an excerpt from a famous speech she used to help free the slaves:

Children, I talk to God and God talks to me. I go and talk to God in the fields and woods. This morning I was walking out, and I got over the fence. I saw the wheat a-holding up its head, looking very big. I go up and take hold of it. You believe it? There was no wheat there. I say, God, what is the matter with this wheat?” And he said to me, “Sojourner, there is a little weevil in it!” Now I hear talk about the Constitution and the rights of man. I come up and take hold of this Constitution. It looks mighty big and I feel for my rights but there ain’t any there. Then I say, “God, what ails this Constitution?” He says to me, “Sojourner, there is a little weevil in it!

That was a very powerful illustration of how she played on words to get her point across.

Here is another excerpt from my favorite speech entitled Ain’t I A Woman:

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm. I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

Sojourner Truth dedicated her life to equal rights and women’s rights. Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883 in Battle Creek, Michigan. She had a profound impact on all of our lives.

Peace and Love,

Rachel Araya