Inspiring Speeches: "Ain't I A Woman" by Sojourner Truth

From a speech made in 1851 to a women's convention in Akron, Ohio by African American hero Sojourner Truth. Truth was born into slavery in New York State and she was freed when the state emancipated its slaves at age 32. She made this speech at age 56 after a clergyman said that the inclusion of women's rights would damage the cause of the abolition of slavery because "Jesus Christ was a man" and "Eve tempted Adam." 

"Well, children, there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the Negroes of the South and the women of the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this talking about?

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 helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in my head; what's this they call it?  [Intellect, someone whispers.] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or Negro's rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my half-measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? From God and 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, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, or get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner Truth aint got nothing more to say."  

Make The News You Want Read

Today is an important day in West Virginia history. Gary Southern, the head of Freedom Industries was sentenced to 30 days in jail and $20,000 fine. In 2014, Freedom Industries let 10,000 gallons of a level 2 hazmat chemical flow through two rust holes the size of quarters into the drinking water source for Charleston, WV. 300,000 people in nine different counties were hurt by Freedom's chemical spill. President Obama declared a State of Emergency when bottled water ran out for days around Charleston.

We do not traditionally hand out criminal sentences for environmental crimes in West Virginia. For example, 19 coal miners died in an unsafe mine 2 miles from my childhood home in 2006. I met the neice of one of those coal miners a few weeks ago during my recent film lecture at a Social Justice Class at West Virginia Wesleyan College. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2016, thirty students and I discussed how the court ordered a mere $3,000 fine and no jail time even after it found that the mine owners ignored 8 important safety violations that "directly" contributed to the deaths of 12 people. 

Today, I decided to take a simple action. Instead of merely talking on Facebook about my feelings, I made an unannounced visit to my local paper. I had 4 kids with me. I walked in and asked the receptionist if I could talk to someone about the need for more coverage on the Gary Southern case in Charleston, West Virginia.

I had a sit down meeting with the editor and a reporter. Both of them were very kind to me. The editor has a policy of coverage that I don't agree with. They see Charleston as something "down South" and they only cover the local news. I made a pitch for more coverage of the Gary Southern trial. I lost. But I won a new friend. The editor told me that anything I want to share in terms of local events with the Watershed, High School Youth Leadership Association or American Conservation Film Festival, they would be willing to cover in depth. "If you make it local, then we can talk about the Elk River Chemical Spill or the Gary Southern criminal conviction as background." 

I left the newpaper office with an idea that I'm going to make the news that I want to read. As far as I know, I was the only person in my county who made a public comment about the Source Water Protection Act. This esoteric stuff isn't seen as "mission critical" inside a low-income community.  However, the lack of a storm water draining plan is the only reason that Gary Southern is going to sleep in jail cell for the next 29 days. It's going to be my job to nurture relationships with my local news media and make sure that green events stay inside the news cycle. 

Embracing Being Lonely

It's Lent. It's a time of being in the desert. I'm pretty addicted to the fame drug. I like to be liked. I like to have my work noticed and praised. I like to have my character noticed and praised. I like to meet new people and enjoy new ideas and new experiences.

The desert is lonely. The desert is monotonous. The desert is anonymous. It's good to be here mentally for six weeks.

The most important thing I do as an artist is to take creative risks. The most important thing I do as a wife is to learn how to be consistent. The best thing I do as a Mom is to stay calm. The most essential thing in my faith journey as a Christian is to resolve my internal lack of trust issues with God.

All of those actions happen easier when I wean myself off the "fame drug." Life is easier when I start to move from an internal place of thoughtful conviction, rather than racing around trying to frantically copy the behaviors of the society around me.