Sojourner Truth: “Ain’t I A Woman”

Sojourner Truth

1797 – November 26, 1883
Photo source: Library of Congress

Sojourner Truth, a self-named, self-liberated, Black Womanist, abolitionist, women’s rights activist, and survivor of rape, physical trauma, and chattel slavery.

Truth was born in Swartekill, New York (now Rifton, NY) in 1797. Her birth name was Isabella “Belle” Baumfree. She changed her name to reflect her purpose in life, speaking the word of God and speaking against slavery:

“Sojourner, because I was to travel up and down the land showing people their sins and being a sign to them, and Truth because I was to declare the truth unto the people.”

She was held as a slave from her birth until securing her own freedom in 1826.

Truth was originally promised freedom, but this promise was broken, and the laws abolishing slavery were not moving expeditiously. This forced her to liberate herself and her daughters. She’d eventually successfully freed her son by facing the court system.

Truth holds space in this project due to her work and her most well-known speech, “Ain’t I A Woman”. This work resonated with me at the early age of 9, having already experienced colorism, a subset of racism.

Truth highlights the experience of Black Women as a dichotomy in which womanhood and blackness are contradictory in the eyes of society. The idea that women are “soft” and “delicate”, but when blackness is part of a woman’s identity, suddenly these translate to “strong black woman”. Or the idea that women “should be handled with tenderness”, but when blackness is part of a woman’s identity, suddenly being used as a “mule” is acceptable.

I believe the denial of womanhood for black women is essential for justifying the violent abuses and exploitation that we’ve faced throughout history. Black Women endured extreme labor which would have been considered “more fit” for men. In order for a white capitalistic society to address it’s own cognitive dissonance regarding the application of gender to black women, it had to completely deny us as women.

This is a woman of conviction and courage. Sojourner Truth, we honor you. The Truth shall set us free.

Receipts aka Sources