Shannon+M.+-+RC+-+SP13


 * Sojourner Truth**


 * Criticism, Goals, Method, and Success**

Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery in New York. Birth dates were not recorded for slaves, but it is estimated that Baumfree was born around 1797. She birthed a few children, one which was sold illegally into slavery. When hearing of this she brought the white man to court, and won. Ironically, her son went on a ship and never returned. Baumfree was sold several times. The name Sojourner Truth comes from her traveling speeches about human rights. Truth spoke at the first National Women's Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts. She also joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she met prominent leaders such as Frederick Douglass. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book about Truth called //The Narrative of Sojourner Truth.//

Truth traveled the States preaching about human rights, specifically women and slaves. Many times she traveled with her good pal George Thompson. Her most famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman", discusses how just because she's black doesn't mean she isn't a woman. She can do everything a man can do if she receives the opportunity. At almost all her speeches she had large crowds hanging onto her every word and cheering her on.


 * Federal Government**

The federal government should my help my cause because it is a very serious issue we are facing, which will take decades to fully solve. The funding and legislature that could be passed will shorten the process for this. For starters, legislation should be passed to make everybody in the United States of America politically equal. The government should spend money on enforcing the piece of legislation. The government should also fund the blacks and women that are needing to restart their lives since it would be extremely hard to go from being enslaved or oppressed. Finally, the plantation owners should receive some sort of welfare since they would essentially be losing their manpower, the people that produce their goods. Without them receiving compensation for the new legislature, they would not be able to survive.


 * References**

__Frederick Douglass__: Truth met Douglass when she joined the Northampton Institution of Education. He, like Truth, was also a slave, and works towards the abolition of slavery. Since they have similar backgrounds they understand the pains slaves go through and would therefore support similar efforts to end it.

__George Thompson:__ George Thompson traveled around with Truth when she gave her powerful speeches.If Thompson didn't have the same values as Truth then he wouldn't have traveled with her. Therefore, Thompson would be a great reference since he really knew her.


 * Works Cited**

"Ain't I AÂ Woman?" //About.com Women's History//. About.com, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

"Sojourner Truth Biography." //Bio.com //. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

"Sojourner Truth.org Home Page." //Sojourner Truth.org Home Page //. Sojourner Truth Virtual Institute, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.