(1797? - 1883)
She suffered through slavery until the age of 30. A spellbinding preacher with a beautiful, powerful singing voice, she became the first black woman to travel across America denouncing slavery. She was a simple, honest and deeply religious activist who stood for freedom and women’s rights. Her poise, self-confidence and fiery passion made her into an early national symbol for strong black women.
“I have as much muscle as any man and I can do as much work as any man... And aren’t I a woman?” - Sojourner Truth
AREN’T I A WOMAN
(By Jonathan Sprout)
Born into slavery in New York State.
Her parents couldn’t save her from cruelty and hate.
She prayed for mercy, and eventually,
They passed a law and set her free.
A fiery abolitionist as hot as burning coals
She worked in the city saving sinner’s souls
She helped the homeless women. Taught them how to pray,
Giving them the strength to say
REFRAIN: Aren’t I a woman!
I’ve worked as hard as any man.
Aren’t I a woman!
I can do anything you can.
Aren’t I a woman!
The truth is, I know a thing or two.
Aren’t I a woman!
I deserve my rights the same as you.
She traveled through the country sounding out the call.
There was passion in her presence and power in it all.
Singing out for freedom in her animated way,
Not afraid to stand and say...
REFRAIN
When slaves and women had no choice
‘Cause white men owned the voting booth.
This tall strong preacher raised her voice
To tell the world Sojourner’s truth.
REFRAIN
©2000 Kanukatunes (ASCAP)
There’s a question mark with Ms. Truth’s birth year because we don’t know when she was born. Slave birth records were often poorly kept.
Sojourner Truth never learned how to read. Evidently, it was against the law for her to learn how to read and write when she was a slave. The important thing to realize here is that she was able to become a hero in spite of this limitation that was placed upon her. Imagine what we can do to become heroes as we are learning to read and write. Most of us are given wonderful opportunities Sojourner never had.
She was born with the name Isabella. Sojourner Truth was the name she gave herself when she was 46 years old. She was a friend to Frederick Douglass and to Susan B. Anthony. She once met Abraham Lincoln when he was president and came away very impressed by him.
I love the story of Sojourner’s powerful “Ain’t I a Woman” speech that she delivered before an audience at a Women’s Rights convention in Ohio in May, 1851. There are different accounts of what she said, but according to Frances Gage, a celebrated antislavery fighter and president of the Convention, some of what Ms. Truth said was:
“Look at me! Look at my arm.” She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. “I have plowed, I have planted, and I have 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?”
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right-side up again. And now that they are asking to do it, the men better let ‘em.”
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