Subscribing to hardcover magazines in the digital era presents a challenge. Before the internet and social media, receiving a magazine in the mail was exciting—a moment to savor. Now, a magazine might be flipped through once and then set aside, waiting for a "later" that rarely comes.
Case in point: an issue of Smithsonian sat on my nightstand for a year before I finally found time to read it. When I did, one story stood out—Cynthia Greenlee's article, The Gospel of Truth (Smithsonian, March 2024). The piece explores the life and legacy of Sojourner Truth beyond the widely recognized phrase, “Ain’t I a Woman?”
Greenlee highlights Truth’s complex identity as an abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, preacher, and strategist who actively shaped her public image.
Born enslaved as Isabella Baumfree in New York in the late 1790s, Truth endured multiple sales, harsh treatment, and betrayal before walking away from enslavement with her infant daughter. She later made history by successfully suing for the return of her illegally sold son, Peter—one of the first legal victories of its kind by a Black woman in the U.S.
A deeply religious person, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth in 1843, dedicating her life to preaching and activism.
While her 1851 speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention cemented her legacy, Greenlee reveals how her words were later misrepresented. The famous refrain “Ain’t I a Woman?” does not appear in the earliest accounts. Instead, Truth’s actual speech likely centered on women's strength and biblical arguments against gender-based oppression.
Her activism extended far beyond that speech. She advocated for land grants for freedpeople, challenged segregation on Washington D.C.’s streetcars, and even met with President Lincoln. She also used photography strategically, selling portrait cards with the tagline, “I sell the shadow to support the substance.”
Greenlee’s article also explores modern efforts to honor Truth, from statues and memorials to an upcoming documentary. More than a historical figure, Sojourner Truth was a self-made icon who understood the power of shaping her own story—an inspiration that endures today.
Read the full article HERE.
Source:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remarkable-untold-story-sojourner-truth-180983691/
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