Today around 11 AM ET, the bust of an African American Woman will be placed in the United States Capitol Building for the first time ever. The ceremony will feature among other people First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
On April 28, 2009 American history will be made. The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) will introduce Sojourner Truth as the first African American woman to have a memorial bust in the United States Capitol building amidst hundreds of guests. After nearly a ten year effort spearheaded by the late Dr. C. Delores Tucker, former chair of NCBW, the memorial has been completed by current National Chair, Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. and members of NCBW.
Whenever I hear her name, I automatically think about the "Ain't I A Woman" speech:
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): Ain't I A Woman?
Delivered 1851
Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio
Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here 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 ever 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 most all sold off to 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 the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' 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 little 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? 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, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and 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 ain't got nothing more to say.
To see the version from
"History of Woman's Suffrage"
click here. . .
Here's a brief biography of Ms. Sojourner Truth. I wonder what she would say if she were alive today to see an African American woman as First Lady of the United States of America, one who is loved far more than she is hated by this country, and accounts of a woman who was almost the President of the United States herself. Sojourner wasn't just fighting for the abolition of slavery, but also for womens rights, that's something that's always impressed me about her, and I'm glad she's being honored this way.
"Sojourner Truth inspired generations of women to demand equality and who later would dare to reach for the ballot. Her Memorial, the first to a black woman in the U.S. Capitol, is a milestone, not just for African Americans and women, but for all Americans," says President Barack Obama.Supporters and Sponsors of Bill H.R. 4510 and the Sojourner Truth Memorial include: U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, Rep. Diane Watson, Senator Arlen Specter and many more. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Rep. Major Owens, Senator Carl Levin and Senator Chris Dodd also supported the earlier efforts to place Sojourner Truth in the Capitol.
So if you get a chance, between freaking out about swine flu and bad photo ops (not saying people HERE are doing that), tune in to the ceremony, I'm sure it will be great. Hopefully it will be on "the TV Machine" (as Rachel would say), but if not it will be on cnn.com/live. And of course, I'll add pictures of the event if they are available afterwards :o)
UPDATE They ARE showing it on CSPAN TV live :o)