“Truth said that she used to be sold for other people’s benefit, but now she sold herself for her own” ( McGill 4). Sojourner Truth was born a slave to a dutch owner who later sold her to a northern plantation owner at the age of six. When action in the states took to emancipate slavery, her slave owner refused to let her be free. She managed to escape, then experienced a revelation from God that said she must spread her story as a female slave. Sojourner Truth’s American impact lies in her work with abolition and women’s rights. Sojourner Truth’s narrative forcefully exposed the slavery beneath the northern states. For example, the degree of impact is expressed in the following quote,“Northern setting of Truth’s Narrative also provides a
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It was a landmark case and the first time a black woman had won a court case against a white man” ( History.com Staff 1). In that time, African Americans were overlooked by the judicial system, and a white women’s word would only stand if it was against a black man. Sojourner Truth was both a women and black--with the odds stacked against her she managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible and won against the words of a white man. The notion that even a black women had some sort of right to her own child was acknowledged by the judicial system and in turn by society itself. As such, the societal reaction from the court case is seen in the following quote, “ Though many were appalled that a negro woman's word overpowered that of a white man. Abolitionists saw this as a step towards black, and possibly minorities no longer being overlooked” ( History.com Staff 1). Truth’s presence is imprinted in the history of a courtroom, as her historical feat provided empowerment for not only black women, but all people. At the same time, Truth’s powerful reach severed the women’s rights movement …show more content…
Evidence of Truth’s reach in her community is seen in the following quote, “ Indeed, a number of contemporary newspapers commented on the impact and influence of the speech (although Jane Swisshelm's paper was not among them—she wrote only that a tall black woman was at the convention, selling books). Gage's recollection that Sojourner Truth's words became a profound inspiration for Ohio women is supported by the farewell Truth received when she left the state, nearly two years later: the women of Ashtabula County honored her departure with a gift of a huge silk banner labeled "Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?"’” ( Lenahan 2). Truth was recognized by the female community and revolutionary woman at the time, as someone who should be remembered as a symbol of female strength. Truth’s present day influence is seen in the following, “While Truth delivered ‘Ain’t I a woman?’ more than a hundred and fifty years ago, her argument in support of the emancipation of women and African-Americans exposes the same irony inherent in misogynistic discourse which protesters at Rhodes attempted to draw to public attention: namely that the fragility of women is a platitude only upheld when it is to the advantage of the beneficiaries of a patriarchal society” ( Lenahan 1). The quote is proving her notorious speech is still used as a tool against sexism in institutionalized settings. Nevertheless, Truth remains as
It was a landmark case and the first time a black woman had won a court case against a white man” ( History.com Staff 1). In that time, African Americans were overlooked by the judicial system, and a white women’s word would only stand if it was against a black man. Sojourner Truth was both a women and black--with the odds stacked against her she managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible and won against the words of a white man. The notion that even a black women had some sort of right to her own child was acknowledged by the judicial system and in turn by society itself. As such, the societal reaction from the court case is seen in the following quote, “ Though many were appalled that a negro woman's word overpowered that of a white man. Abolitionists saw this as a step towards black, and possibly minorities no longer being overlooked” ( History.com Staff 1). Truth’s presence is imprinted in the history of a courtroom, as her historical feat provided empowerment for not only black women, but all people. At the same time, Truth’s powerful reach severed the women’s rights movement …show more content…
Evidence of Truth’s reach in her community is seen in the following quote, “ Indeed, a number of contemporary newspapers commented on the impact and influence of the speech (although Jane Swisshelm's paper was not among them—she wrote only that a tall black woman was at the convention, selling books). Gage's recollection that Sojourner Truth's words became a profound inspiration for Ohio women is supported by the farewell Truth received when she left the state, nearly two years later: the women of Ashtabula County honored her departure with a gift of a huge silk banner labeled "Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?"’” ( Lenahan 2). Truth was recognized by the female community and revolutionary woman at the time, as someone who should be remembered as a symbol of female strength. Truth’s present day influence is seen in the following, “While Truth delivered ‘Ain’t I a woman?’ more than a hundred and fifty years ago, her argument in support of the emancipation of women and African-Americans exposes the same irony inherent in misogynistic discourse which protesters at Rhodes attempted to draw to public attention: namely that the fragility of women is a platitude only upheld when it is to the advantage of the beneficiaries of a patriarchal society” ( Lenahan 1). The quote is proving her notorious speech is still used as a tool against sexism in institutionalized settings. Nevertheless, Truth remains as