Black History Month, Continued

Campus Ministry continues to celebrate Black History Month by hearing the words and honoring the contributions of selected African-American women at the beginning of each Mass. Last Sunday we paid homage to Sojourner Truth.

HNU Freshman Morgan Butler writes:

In the mid 1800s, one of the most famous leaders of the black women’s suffrage movement was born under the name of Isabella Baumfree. Later, after a spell-bound religious conversion, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth. Although born a slave she was blessed enough to be born in the liberal State of New York. Among the many scholars, freedom fighters, religious leaders, and artists of the black community, Sojourner Truth stands as an individual. Being both a freedom fighter and religious leader, Sojourner Truth delivered a sense of pride to her people and uplifted the spirits of women to this day. She is the symbol of self righteousness for both women of color and of other backgrounds. During her lifespan she gave her time and devotion to her church and to women. With her quick-witted tongue and hot-tempered speeches she helped pave the path for the both the women’s suffrage movement and the African American struggle to freedom.

One Sojourner Truth’s most famous speeches, “Aint I Woman,” was given at the Women’s Rights Convention in 1850. Here is an excerpt from that speech:

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.