To the Editor

This is an open letter to the Editor,

            I’ve just returned from Akron, Ohio. Where I was in attendance for the Women’s Rights Convention the year is 1851. The hall was full of women all white and one colored woman by the name of Sojourner Truth, she was a tall woman weathered in the face from the sun her features however soft. Most of the white women gasp at seeing this woman, Sojourner Truth though none had the nerve to have her removed from the hall. So she stayed as she was a woman and was this not a place for women’s interests?

During the first day of the many sermons that filled hall we mostly heard from ministers from many religious sects that were men. They had been there to remind us women of our duties and of duties of men. As I was just thinking that I had not come so far and risking my marriage to hear the sermons of a man’s view. On the duties of women to her family and Church. It is of the second day of speeches that Ms. Sojourner Truth rose and took to the podium. Many of the women were offended and even suggested that she not speak. Though no one intervene nor prevented her taking the podium.  

It is of this that I write to you, of the moving speech she delivered. I have never been so moved by such reasoning as when she stood there with such strong convictions when she addressed the hall of women. She was loud and powerful commanding the room for undivided attention. Ms. Truth compared the lines between men and women to those that stood there before her preaching to us women about having “Intellect,”  and what would we do if vote or own property.

Ms. Sojourner Truth stated that she had, “borne thirteen children most had been taken and sold off into slavery.” She was commanding by addressing the hall “Ain’t I a woman.” For she bore the marks of child birth but had to endure seeing almost all wrenched from her and sold.

Again she became louder when she belted out, “Ain’t I woman…for wanting to help into carriages and lifted over puddles…for having to plough and plant.” And here these men that spoke before her about a women’s place and the duties of a man to perform such tasks. Yet she continued to address the room of women and men about the origins of Christ. Explaining this she said, “Where did your God come from? From God came woman. Man had nothing to do with him.” To address the statement made, “women can’t have as much rights, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman.”

I was moved by Sojourner Truth her speech to the hall of women, she was powerful and moving. She had the courage to step forward and deliver an inspiring speech. When no other woman had step up to address the issues and the purpose for convening this Women’s Convention. I was truly inspired to advocate change to the life of the colored women. The realization came to me that we women have the same common interests of equality fighting for the same freedoms.

Thank You