Abstract
Isabelle lived as a slave in Ulster County, New York, before asserting her freedom in 1827. Isabelle claimed to hear God's word telling her to travel the country declaring words of truth about the evil of slavery. Thus ... Sojourner Truth. "Oh Lord what is this slavery, that it can do such dreadful things? What evil can it not do?" (Terry, 60) Sojourner felt she had a stronger power -- the truth. "She knew herself to be in possession of 'the truth', no shred of self-doubt, not thought of the possibility of failure in her mission, no fear of bodily harm gave her pause" (Terry,1). Her life became a mission for God, one which sought the realization of self-determination for all people. Despite the fact that she was illiterate, she imprinted an indelible mark on this nation. Rather than direct political action or force, she used truth as a weapon of moral suasion. Sojourner Truth met Abraham Lincoln on October 29, 1864. In a letter to a friend following the visit, she told of her awe and respect for the man she deemed the greatest president. President by the grace of God, Lincoln was the only one who addressed the reality her people confronted. Sojourner admired Lincoln's Gettysburg Address regarding "... the unfinished work ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom." Thus, during her work at Fort Wagner the Thanksgiving immediately following the address, she sang, "Father Abraham has spoken and the message has been sent; the prison doors have opened and out the prisoners went..." (Pauli, 205).
Journal Title
Iowa Journal of Communication
Volume
25
Issue
3
First Page
23
Last Page
27
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Garvin, Margaret
(1993)
"for Sojourner Truth,"
Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 25:
No.
3, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol25/iss3/9
Copyright
©1993 Iowa Communication Association
