Blog Post #4

In my opinion, Sojourner Truth is a rock star! The accomplishments she made throughout her life are astonishing, especially for that time period. She seemed to embrace that fact that she was a woman of color and also illiterate, which from my understanding was extremely bold during the 1800’s. I was surprised to learn she was responsible for Congress’ banning of segregated streetcars in Washington, D.C., nearly 100 years prior to the contemporary civil rights movement! Wow! 

Throughout my reading I found that many of Truth’s messages still relate to the issues women face today. One of her most famous quotes from “Ain’t I a Woman?” stood out to me, "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into my carriages, or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” Even today, regardless of race, it is rare to find a woman who is treated the way she explains. Women are constantly labeled and associated with derogatory terms or saying like, “bros before hoes” that relay the message to men that women do not deserve respect. I am not saying all men lack respect for women, but I do think most men are guilty of associating women with offensive words. Do you think this is true?

In her speech, “Keeping the Thing Going While Things Are Stirring” she says, “They go out washing, which is about as high as a colored woman gets, and their men go about idle, strutting up and down; and when the woman come home, they ask for their money and take it all, and then scold because there is no food.” This refers to colored women at that time. This is still true for women today. Women are generally expected to work full time jobs, care for their children, clean the house and put dinner on the table. This is an overwhelmingly responsible life style if you ask me.  It is interesting and at the same time distressing to see how deeply engrained our gender roles are in history. In the same speech she later says, “They work in the fields and do as much work, but do not get the pay.” Which, again are gender inequality issues we face as women today.

Overall, I found her story and speeches to be truly inspiring. I love that she said, “I can’t read, but I can read people.”