Monday Quote for October 5

Born into slavery in New York state where her first language was Dutch, Isabella Baumfree escaped with her infant daughter in 1826.  In 1851, as Sojourner Truth, a name she had chosen for herself, she gave an extemporaneous speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron Ohio.  Her words in Akron took on new life when they were published as a poem in 1852.  

Ain't I a Woman, particularly the last verse, continues to resonate, even after 164 years.  We ARE equal; and no politician--no matter if his agenda is religious or secular--can change that.

monday quote:

And ain't I a woman?

     that little man in black there say

a woman can't have as much rights as a man

     cause Christ wasn't a woman

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

together women ought to be able to turn it

     rightside up again.

(Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and women's rights activist, 1797-1883)