Introduction to Sojourner Truth
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Added on 2020-04-01
Introduction to Sojourner Truth
Added on 2020-04-01
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Running head: SOJOURNER TRUTH: A FEMINIST AND A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST 1Sojourner Truth: A Feminist and a Civil Rights ActivistNameUniversity
SOJOURNER TRUTH: A FEMINIST AND A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST2IntroductionThe life of any woman amidst the patriarchy dominated society has never been an easytask. The conditions were even more unbearable in the past centuries especially before andduring the 19th century. The rise of women to popularity was unheard, and if by any chance ithappened, it could rise to a series of controversies against women. Being a woman was viewedas some form of disgrace. The women from the minority (the blacks, the unlearned and theslaves) groups were more disgraced. Sojourner Truth, a black, a slave and an unlearned womanhowever rose and emerged to be an admired figure, insurmountable and a significant historicalsymbol of equality. Sojourner Truth is a self-given name to Isabella Baumfree believed to have been born in1797[ CITATION Pai90 \l 1033 ]. The truth was an African American born to James andElizabeth Baumfree in Swarterkill under slavery. In 1826, she managed to escape slavery withher infant daughter[ CITATION Pai90 \l 1033 ]. Truth dedicated her life to fighting for equalityboth in the racial and the gender aspects. She recruited the blacks for the union army. She is bestknown for her speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women’s RightsConvention. The speech was a major confrontation to the previous speeches given by menstating that women are inferior to men and therefore they should not enjoy similar rights. Sheopenly dismissed the statements earlier made that women needed help from men with theircarriages and in performing other duties. She said, ‘Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or overmud-puddles, or gives me any best place!’[ CITATION Pau97 \l 1033 ]. Truth went further toexplain how she performed the then thought to be male tasks all alone, ‘I have ploughed andplanted and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work
SOJOURNER TRUTH: A FEMINIST AND A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST3as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well!’[ CITATIONGil80 \l 1033 ]. After she gained her freedom, she had much conviction in the biblical teachingsand became a preacher in the Pentecostal conviction. Her future name Sojourner Truth wasattached to her strong beliefs in religion.Sojourner Truth: A Feminist and a Civil Rights Activist. Source: https://www.google.comTruth had an outspoken personality which was admired by both men and women living inher era. She was among the few African American women in the 19th century who publiclydenounced the hostilities leveled against them[ CITATION Min12 \l 1033 ]. Women leaderswere much impressed by her personality. Lucy Stone liked her and regarded her as ‘wise,unselfish, brave and good.' Elizabeth Cady also appreciated her qualities. Truth not only foundapproval in the eyes of the women, but some men also subscribed to her ideologies and went astep further to join her in the mission of activism. She met Fredrick Douglass, a fellowabolitionist at Northampton Association. Douglass was much influenced by Truth's beliefs, andlater he declared the need for the blacks to seize freedom by power.I have a conviction that Sojourner Truth was a mad woman, mad in the best way. I wish Icould have met her. She was my ideal exemplary figure of endurance and perseverance. Her
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