Read Part One HERE
In this post I continue to focus on a woman named Sojourner Truth. She lived from 1797 -1883. In 1851, Sojourner gave her famous speech commonly titled, "Ain't I A Woman, "at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. She encountered fierce opposition from pro-slavery groups wherever she travelled. She was often attacked, and on one occasion, she was so beaten that she was left with a limp for the rest of her life. However, Sojourner never stopped travelling and teaching, sure that God would protect her.
When the Civil War began, Sojourner dedicated her talents to recruiting soldiers for the Union Army. In 1864 , she moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the National Freedman's Relief Association, striving to improve the lives and prospects of free Black people. That Fall she was invited to meet President Abraham Lincoln.
After the war, Sojourner lobbied the U.S Government to grant land to newly free Black men and women. She understood that Black people could never be truly free until they achieved economic prosperity, and she knew that owning land was an important first step. She also continued to travel throughout United States, giving speeches about women's rights, prison reform, and desegration. She was a passionate champion of all aspects of social justice right up until her death in November, 1883.
Read Part Sixty HERE
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