Sojourner Truth Criticism
Sojourner Truth, born Isabella in 1797, remains a pivotal figure in American history, celebrated as a symbol of equality and a prominent advocate for both African American emancipation and women's rights. As an orator, lecturer, and activist, Truth transcended the limitations imposed by her illiteracy, using her profound wisdom and oratory skills to captivate audiences across the nation. Her famous speech at the 1851 Akron, Ohio women's rights convention, famously transcribed by Frances Dana Gage, posed the poignant question, "Ar'n't I a woman?", powerfully asserting the need for equal rights for all women, regardless of race.
Born into slavery in New York, Truth's early life was marked by the hardships of slavery, including the separation from her family and limited access to formal education. Despite these challenges, she developed a keen ability to "read" people, a skill that would later serve her in her career as a speaker and advocate. After obtaining her freedom in 1827, she embraced the name Sojourner Truth, reflecting her spiritual calling to preach and raise awareness on social injustices.
Truth's 1850 autobiography, Narrative of Sojourner Truth, dictated to Olive Gilbert, offers a deeply spiritual account of her life, focusing on her faith and personal evolution. Although it diverges from typical ex-slave narratives by offering forgiveness to slave-owners rather than condemnation, the Narrative remains a critical text for understanding her life and contributions. According to Jean M. Humez, the work is a collaborative text, showcasing Truth's intentional self-representation.
Truth's legacy as a speaker is well-documented, with only four extant records of her speeches, most notably her Akron address, while other speeches are known through observers as highlighted by Stetson and David. Her rhetoric was characterized by its sincerity and emotional resonance, as Nell Irvin Painter observes, her remarks were crafted into a cohesive whole.
Throughout her life, Truth inspired not only through her words but also through her presence, as illustrated by her interactions with reformers and activists, including her time with the Northampton Association. Her influence persisted well into the 20th century, continuously evolving to reflect her as a champion for both racial and gender equality. By the 1990s, her biography became a bestseller, testifying to her enduring impact on American society and her place as a revered figure in feminist and African American history.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Sojourner Truth: 1863
(summary)
In the following essay originally published in 1863, Dugdale describes his experience with Truth, who stayed with him as a guest, and asks readers to lend her their support.
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Sojourner Truth: Ashtabula County, Ohio, 1855
(summary)
In the following essay originally published in 1901, Wyman discusses a letter describing a public appearance by Truth.
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Difference, Slavery, and Memory: Sojourner Truth in Feminist Abolitionism
(summary)
In the following essay, Painter presents a brief history of Sojourner Truth's life and also examines her place in cultural history.
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Speaking of Shadows
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Stetson and David examine the power of Truth's oratory, claiming that although much scholarship has focused on her illiteracy, it was in fact irrelevant to Truth's lived experience and political thought.
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Sojourner Truth: A Practical Public Discourse
(summary)
In the following essay, Lipscomb contends that Truth's speeches and oratory were part of a practical public discourse tradition that sought to inspire action on issues important to the speaker.
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Reading The Narrative of Sojourner Truth as a Collaborative Text
(summary)
In the following essay, Humez examines the interaction between Sojourner Truth and Olive Gilbert, characterizing their relationship and the resulting work as a highly collaborative one.
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Storyteller and Songstress
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Fitch and Mandziuk examine Truth's narrative discourses in the context of major rhetorical concepts.
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Sojourner Truth: 1863
(summary)
- Further Reading