Tag: Slavery

Isabella Baumfree: Sojourner Truth

February 1

“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.”

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), 1860’s Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Isabella aka Sojourner Truth was born a slave 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Baumfree. It appears Sojourner was a strong voice for women’s rights, an abolitionist and author. Years after the death of the only man she loved, she was forced to marry an older slave named Thomas, also owned by her master. To their union four of the five children born belonged to them as her daughter Diana was fathered by John Dumont. One of her greatest challenges was suing her youngest son’s master. Once she’d learned he’d sold her child to someone in Alabama she became concerned. The sale would prevent Peter from being freed under New York law once he turned 21 years old. It took faith in God and determination but she won her case. Peter was returned to New York and eventually given to her, as she was the only one that could claim him legally. Sojourner moved to Battle Creek, Michigan to be with at least one of her daughters. She died November 26, 1883 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

We Can Make a Difference

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country. FDR

Today, I noticed a new post [old post] from a friend and Facebook thinker. Everyday God sends she writes several controversial post. And everyday I say to myself “God! I wish I had that skill.” Well any-who-how, each post has something to do with humanity. Her topics stir the soul in such a way that her array of friends from all walks of life show compassion about this and that. And sitting on the sideline reading comments allows viewers to see others perspective concerning what matters to them and the circle they travel within. With that said, on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, she posted the below screen shot.

I 100% percent agree with the author of Latinos for Liberty. The author wrote everything I feel. I, too, haven’t watched one impeachment hearing.

I don’t care if Trump stays or goes. He’s no different than those that have come before him. All I can hope for is that he does something to help Black communities in ways that will send at least one message. We matter.

Thus far only one president and it really wasn’t the president, it was his wife that showed Black people they mattered. Now before I go on I’m not saying there weren’t others I just haven’t heard about them. However, Eleanor Roosevelt was the first woman of stature to be very vocal about racism and the impact it had on Black communities. She and her mother-in-law took an active role in ensuring Black people were treated equal. And! Her firm stand on equal rights for everyone made her a woman of great strength and a woman to be admired.

And, like Latinos, we Black folks need to get involved with local and state government. We need to learn the foundations of government entities. As we learn how to get those entities to work for us! We need to stop thinking and feeling we’re owed as individuals and as a race group. What happened to our ancestors was horrible but they survived and we’re living. We need to finish running their race because it’s our race that’s finishing last.