[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7514-S7515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOJOURNER TRUTH

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, yesterday, I joined Senator Clinton and 
18 other Members of the Senate in introducing S. 2600, legislation 
calling for the revision of the group portrait monument, located in the 
Capitol Rotunda, honoring leaders of the Women's Suffrage movement to 
include the likeness of Sojourner Truth. Our bill has the support of 
Senators on both sides of the isle and is an appropriate step towards 
honoring Truth's contributions to eliminating women's suffrage.
  In its current form, the monument features the sculpted busts of 
Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. As many 
know, one corner of the stone is unsculpted and was clearly intended to 
include a fourth hero of the suffrage movement. I believe that woman 
should be Sojourner Truth and that is why I have cosponsored this 
important piece of legislation.
  Sojourner Truth, though unable to read or write, was considered one 
of the most eloquent and noted spokespersons of her day. She was a 
leader in the abolitionist movement, and a groundbreaking speaker on 
behalf of equality for women.
  Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Ulster County, 
NY, and served as a slave under several different masters. She bore 
four children who survived infancy, and all except one daughter were 
sold into slavery. Baumfree became a freed slave in 1828 when New York 
State outlawed slavery. She remained in New York and instituted 
successful legal proceedings to secure the return of her son, Peter, 
who had been illegally sold to a slave-owner from Alabama.
  In 1843, Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth and dedicated 
her life to traveling and lecturing. She began her migration west in 
1850, where she shared the stage with other abolitionist leaders such 
as Frederick Douglass. In October 1856, Truth came to Battle Creek, MI, 
with Quaker leader Henry Willis to speak at a Friends of Human Progress 
meeting. She eventually bought a house and settled in the area. Her 
antislavery, women's rights, and temperance arguments brought Battle 
Creek both regional and national recognition. Sojourner Truth died at 
her home in Battle Creek, MI, on November 26, 1883, having lived a 
truly extraordinary life.
  Truth also lived in Washington, DC for several years, helping slaves 
who had fled from the South, and appearing at women's suffrage 
gatherings. She returned to Battle Creek in 1875, and remained there 
until her death in 1883. Sojourner Truth spoke from her heart about the 
most troubling issues of her time. A testament to Truth's convictions 
is that her words continue to speak to us today.
  Sojourner Truth was a political and social activist who personally 
conversed with President Abraham Lincoln on behalf of freed, unemployed

[[Page S7515]]

slaves, and campaigned for Ulysses S. Grant in the Presidential 
election in 1868. Sojourner was a woman of great passion and 
determination who was spiritually motivated to preach and teach in ways 
that have had a profound and lasting imprint on American history.
  I am proud and the people of my State are proud to claim this 
legendary leader. In September of 1999, Michigan honored Sojourner 
Truth with the dedication of the Sojourner Truth Memorial Monument, 
which was unveiled in Battle Creek, MI.
  The contributions of Sojourner Truth, who helped lead our country out 
of the dark days of slavery, are indelibly etched in the chronicle of 
not only the history of this Nation, but are viewed with distinction 
and admiration throughout the world. In 1851, Sojourner delivered her 
famous ``Ain't I a Woman?'' speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, 
OH. She spoke from her heart about the most troubling issues of her 
time. Her words on that day in Ohio are a testament to Sojourner 
Truth's convictions and are a part of the great legacy she left for us 
all.
  In closing, I must take a moment to pay special tribute to Dr. C. 
Delores Tucker, who has been the chief crusader in the movement to add 
Sojourner Truth to the Women's Suffrage group portrait monument. Dr. 
Tucker, President of the Bethune-Dubois Institute and Chair of the 
National Congress of Black Women, is a woman of strong conviction and 
is unyielding in her pursuits for justice and fairness. Because of her 
diligence and commitment, constructive efforts are now on the way to 
ensuring that Sojourner Truth will be shown in her rightful place, in 
our Capitol Rotunda. I must also commend the National Council of 
Women's Organizations for their active support of this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of S. 2600, including 
cosponsors, be inserted in the Record at the end of my remarks, 
following Truth's ``Ain't I a Woman'' speech.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                            Ain't I a Woman

                          (By Sojourner Truth)

       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 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 gets 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 five children and seen most all sold off to 
     slavery, and when I cried out with a 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 the audience whispers `intellect') 
     That's it, honey.
       What's that got to do with women's right or negroes' 
     rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and your 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 women?
       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.
                                 ______
                                 

                                S. 2600

   Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Dodd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. 
Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. 
 Boxer, Mr. Specter, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. 
   Hutchison, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Collins, Mr. Corzine, and Mr. Pryor) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                 Committee on Rules and Administration

       A BILL To direct the Architect of the Capitol to enter into 
     a contract to revise the statue commemorating women's 
     suffrage located in the rotunda of the United States Capitol 
     to include a likeness of Sojourner Truth.
         Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
     of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Sojourner Truth was a towering figure among the 
     founders of the movement for women's suffrage in the United 
     States, and any monument that accurately represents this 
     important development in our Nation's history should include 
     her.
       (2) The statue known as the Portrait Monument, originally 
     presented to Congress in 1920 in honor of the passage of the 
     Nineteenth Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote and 
     presently exhibited in the rotunda of the Capitol, portrays 
     several early suffragists who were Sojourner Truth's 
     contemporaries, but not Sojourner Truth herself, the only 
     African American among the group.

     SEC. 2. REVISION OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE STATUE.

       Not later than the final day on which the One Hundred Ninth 
     Congress is in session, the Architect of the Capitol shall 
     enter into a contract to revise the statue commemorating 
     women's suffrage located in the rotunda of the United States 
     Capitol (commonly known as the ``Portrait Monument'') to 
     include a likeness of Sojourner Truth.

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