Sojourner Truth: 'Oprah's No. 1 Black History Heroine'

[@msdsplayground8360]

First of all bringing Oprah into the title does "Nothing" to make me want to watch the video. Sojourner Truth stands on her "own" merits, her voice, her strengths.

[@sojournertruth2117]

Hello you are providing the incorrect “Ain't I a woman” speech. The speech you reference and the video you provide a link to was actually written by Frances Gage 12 years after the real “Ain’t I a woman speech” was given by Sojourner. Frances Gage, a white abolitionist published her speech and falsely attributed it to Sojourner. The original speech was transcribed 12 years earlier by a reporter, Marius Robinson, and published in the Anti-Slavery Bugle. It can be referenced in the Library of Congress archives. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83035487/1851-06-21/ed-1/seq-4/ If you dig just a little deeper you will see the facts are pretty irrefutable. Here is a link to a site that compares and explains why there are two speeches and why the wrong one is attributed to Sojourner. It is important for many reasons why we re-educate the public about the original and correct speech. For one Sojourner was from upper New York and spoke english with a heavy Dutch accent. The speech that Frances Gage wrote and attributes as Sojourner‘s gives Sojourner an uneducated southern slave dialect. Why is this important? Because it is another step in the dumbing down of our nations rich and complex black history. Second it was not Sojourner’s identify. Third it helps in erasing our nations northern slave history. I could go on and on. What is important is that we rigorously provide the truth and when wrong take steps to correct them. I am asking you to please correct your mistake in providing a link to the wrong “Ain’t I a Woman” speech and at the very least make a mention and provide a video link to the correct one so your readers can be aware of both. And make their own educated conclusions. Thank you so much for your time in reading this long email. It has been very difficult to sway the general public that something held as the truth for so long is not correct and it is time to give Sojourner back her authentic speech and voice. I am very proud that the National Woman’s History Museum, National Parks Service, The Smithsonian, Googles Doodle page and Google arts and culture page, Wikipedia and many other sites now offer the correct speech. Would you please consider doing the same? Thank you so much. KZbin link to Sojourner Truth’s original “Ain’t I a woman” speech. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIOke62arbeamMU kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6aoYaBuZ5d_o8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZrXm5p9n92prbc Website that compares and contrasts both speeches and explains why there are two speeches. www.thesojournertruthproject.com Leslie Podell

[@jellyrolle95]

Thanks for your commentary! If I'm not mistaken, most New Yorkers -- Black and White -- spoke Dutch back in the day. How is it possible that Northerner Truth spoke in a Southern slave dialect? I would love to hear her speech given in the proper dialect.

[@msdsplayground8360]

The most "Brilliant" response to a video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@paulaliberty2082]

Leslie! Thank you. I was taught that she did know how to read & write....in Dutch. And all her work is getting looked at again because she has been horribly mis quoted. There is a lot more to her story.

[@willdwyer6782]

Her grave is about a 10 minute drive across town from where I live. She's buried next to the Post mausoleum where the inventor of Grape Nuts cereal is interred.

[@debbylou5729]

Can’t stand Oprah. No matter how hard she tries she comes across as fake and condescending

[@ridge7524]

💯

[@carrolllinda2519]

I really appreciate the presentation, but I am sorry that Oprah recited the poem. No respect for her.

[@PinkTorpedo909]

Black history. So it’s 10% truth based on 90% subjective BS…

[@ProffezerSuggonDeeznutz]

Define a woman ..