Sojourner Truth.
One of the most powerful, influential, and respected women of history and yet, she did not know how to read or write. As Secretary Clinton mentions in the YouTube video, Truth at one point counted President Lincoln and President Grant as acquaintances. Sojourner Truth and her journey really cannot be summed up by words, but I will try. She was courageous, heroic, audacious, majestic, candid, honorable, considerate and intelligent. Only to name a few adjectives of the many that describe Sojourner Truth. In 2009, Truth became the first black woman honored with a bust in the United States Capitol, created by world-renowned artist Artis Lane. I cannot begin to imagine how proud she was looking down from Heaven at the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, at Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, at Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the nation’s first black First Lady, Michelle Obama. As Mrs. Obama says in the video, isn’t it incredible that she is the wife of the Commander in Chief and Leader of the Free World and also a descendant of slaves? That awesome fact is able to be a reality because of the work of Sojourner Truth. Her perseverance, her hard labor, her brave speeches, her endless efforts all have led to a more free, more just society we now know today. Sojourner Truth could have easily seen herself as suppressed, defeated and degraded, because frankly, she endured some of humanity’s worst actions. However, she rose above the evil and the hatred to fight tirelessly for what was right. Whenever we feel down or depressed about something in our lives, we must look to Sojourner. She will inspire us.
I love this post. I did not know she couldn't read or write. It is a tragedy that her great talent for words can not be written down. I know she would have been a great writer.
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