LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of abol-
itionist, women's rights activist and humanitarian, Sojourner Truth,
1797-1883

WHEREAS, March is Women's History Month, a time to honor, reflect on and
pay tribute to the women of our Nation for their significant contrib-
utions and dedication to fighting for equality for all women; and
WHEREAS, The efforts and accomplishments of African-American women are
all too often overlooked and the need to recognize their commitment is
worthwhile, meaningful and long overdue; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate
the life and accomplishments of abolitionist, women's rights activist
and humanitarian, Sojourner Truth, 1797-1883; and
WHEREAS, Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, on the Johannes Hardenbergh
estate in the Swartekill neighborhood in what was then the Town of
Hurley, New York, but is now in Esopus, Sojourner Truth is considered to
be one of the two most famous Black Women of the 19th Century; and
WHEREAS, Sojourner Truth was a 19th Century Ulster County former slave
and forerunner of the women's and civil rights movement; she, like many
other slaves, had watched her brothers and sisters be sold into slavery
and taken away from their families; and
WHEREAS, Sojourner Truth grew up speaking Dutch and had at least five
children (two daughters were sold away from her); she fled her owners'
household in 1827, found refuge in the home of the Van Wageners, and
took their name; and
WHEREAS, In 1843, she was inspired to change her name from Isabella
Van Wagener to 'Sojourner Truth' and to set out to become a preacher;
she ended up in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a utopian community and
stayed there until 1850, when she settled in Battle Creek, Michigan; by
that time she had given lectures on abolition and women's rights in many
public appearances; and
WHEREAS, "Ain't I a Woman?" is a persuasive, motivational, inspira-
tional, and the most recognized speech by Sojourner Truth; she delivered
it at a women's rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851; and
WHEREAS, The celebrated Sojourner Truth had excellent powers of
oration which are highlighted forever in her famous speech; this remark-
able lady's unwavering dedication to the women's suffrage movement
stands as a beacon of inspiration for all women, both then and now, who
have struggled and continue to struggle for their rights; and
WHEREAS, Sojourner Truth was received by President Abraham Lincoln at
the White House in 1864; after the war, she advocated a 'Negro State'
and promoted the emigration of African-Americans to the West; she
continued to travel throughout much of the Northeast, lecturing on a
variety of inspirational and social reform topics, before retiring to
Battle Creek, Michigan, in her later years; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that Women's History
Month is a highly felicitous time to recognize and honor women of great-
ness; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of abolitionist, women's rights
activist and humanitarian, Sojourner Truth, 1797-1883.