Celebrating Our Sisters in the Struggle

Last updated on: July 19, 2013 at 12:17 pm by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Celebrating Our Sisters in the Struggle 2013-07-19T12:17:34-06:00 Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On July 19, 1848, the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, sparking a women’s movement that challenged both the church and the world with the good news that in Jesus Christ, there is neither male nor female.

Isabella Baumfree, born a slave in New York State, heard the voice of Jesus speak to her in the woods where her mother had taught her about the God who led Israel out of Egypt. After walking away from her master’s home, she found refuge with a family that organized to purchase her freedom. Following another radical conversion experience, Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth and committed to preach Christ’s liberating word throughout the land.

Her most famous speech, “Ain’t I A Woman?” was delivered at a Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio, just three years after the initial gathering at Seneca Falls that began on this day in 1848. Here’s a little snippet of her fiery message:

I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no man could head me — and ain’t I a woman? I have born’d five childrun and seen ’em mos’ all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard — and ain’t I a woman? . . . Den dat little man is back dar, he say women can’t have as much rights as man, ’cause Christ warn’t a woman. Whar did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with him!

From the Hebrew midwives to Queen Esther to Sojourner Truth, Dorothy Day, Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer, sisters and mothers in the faith have led the struggle for liberation. This week in North Carolina, we had a chance to hear from 92 year-old Rosa Nell Eaton. If you have a few minutes to watch, you might catch a little of Sojourner Truth’s spirit today.

Previous Post

July 12, 2013

Why Justice is Face-to-Face

Next Post

July 22, 2013 Today's Freedom Riders

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Features Front Porch Nurturing Communities Testimonies

Select a Month April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz