Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
the resolution and the final product
Krislyn Howard
March 3, 2007
Sojourner Story
Bert, A
From Nobody to Somebody: The Struggle of Sojourner Truth
“Grandpa! I don’t feel like hearing a story, I just want to go to watch T.V.” Linda whined at her grandfather who was yet again trying to tell her another untrue/true folktale. You see Grandpa Tillwater was never the type to tell an all the way true story. It was always a folktale in which her Grandpa would add something that was false or gave a lesson.
“Shut up with that whining Linda and come here and let Grandpa tell you a story about a woman named Sojourner Truth.” Grandpa said while walking on his cane to the small but decent living room couch.
“I don’t wanna here a story or a folktale… or whatever you call it. I just want to watch MTV’s Sweet Sixteen!” Linda whined again, and then turned her head to watch the obnoxious teenage girls that threw temper tantrums over money and their party. Grandpa then turned his direction to Linda’s favorite show, and a look of disgust covered grandpa’s face as he placed the wooden pipe in his mouth…
“Turn this crap off and come here! You don’t learn anything from that junk!” Grandpa ordered more sternly than before. As Linda got up to turn off the small colored television, she mumbled harsh things about Grandpa Tillwater the whole time.
“Do I hear you talking back Linda?” Grandpa asked his face beginning to wrinkle up and his nose beginning to flare.
“No Grandpa.” Linda said solemnly. While fixing her clothes on her skinny frame.
“All right then…you better not be. But anyway I’ma tell you a story about Ms. Sojourner Truth. Yeah, Ms. Truth was a good woman, she was a fighter too. But let’s get into the story…”
The year was 1825 and Isabella Baumfree was steadily picking cotton through the dangerous fields in the hot and sticky weather on her slave master Mr. Dumont’s plantation. (The fields were the most dangerous. It consisted of poisonous snakes and lizards, and many died from high temperature.) She was dripping from perspiration and her back ached from steadily bending over. The grass in the fields was brown and poky. Isabella’s dingy and wet clothes barely covered her body, and she wore no shoes or socks…just the ripped clothing she made, and the skin on her back. This caused her skin to be fairly rough and appear dirty.
“Issabella! Oh Isssyyy-Bellllllaaa!” Isabella’s husband Thomas called beckoning attention from Isabella who was in her own world staring deep in thought at a eagle flying freely in the hot summer sky. “Isabella!” Thomas called once again, now running towards her to get her attention, which caused his huge belly to flop as he ran.
“Oh I’m so sorry Thomas; I just have a lot on my mine. What is it, dear?” Isabella said still slightly dazed as she awaited Thomas’s’ news.
“Issy, are you thinking about freedom again? If so, I told you to not worry about free will, I don’t want to ruin your dreams but freedom isn’t supposed to be in your or my vocabulary. Negroes don’t get it, we are here to work, so get up and get to work before we get a whipping and I know you don’t want that.” Thomas reasoned with such authority, while wiping sweat off of his forehead.
“Thomas, don’t worry about it. Now I told you to stop assuming what I’m thinking, you ain’t me, honey.” Isabella spoke slightly annoyed with Thomas’s presence. She’d never loved Thomas romantically. In fact she was forced marriage by Mr. Dumont. Isabella already had a loved one by the name of Robert, who lived on another plantation. Robert’s plantation owner didn’t approve Isabella and Robert’s love for each other so he separated the two by beating Robert senseless. Robert never returned to see Isabella again.
“I know Issy, I’m sorry. I just worry about you sometimes since you tend to always zone out in deep thought.” Thomas replied with sincerity.
“It’s okay Thomas; I worry about myself at times. But let’s go back to the shack to start preparing dinner for Dumont and his family. You already know he’s impatient. Isabella said. With that said Thomas and Isabella headed home with a large stack of cotton from the fields.
As soon as Isabella headed to the shack she called home, (which was broke down and had no windows that opened. Isabella’s whole family slept on the floor in fear the house would break down because of the weight the cot would carry.) she busied herself with Dumont’s dinner, and Thomas got the kids ready. Together they had 34 children; all were close in age, so they naturally had a close bond.
Soon, Isabella was ready to go to the Dumont Mansion to serve dinner. Isabella loved going to the mansion, she loved the expensive things Mr. Dumont had in his house; such as leather furniture, gold and chandeliers. All of the things had Isabella in a state of awe. Isabella had great cooking skills and was always ordered to the Dumont mansion to cook. This certain night, Isabella made hush puppies, cornbread, chicken, and gumbo. All dishes happened to be Mr. Dumont’s favorite. After being praised graciously by Dumont’s wife for Isabella’s expertise skills in cooking, Dumont pulled Isabella to the side.
“Isabella, am I good to you?” Dumont asked while picking the meat that lay between his teeth.
“Umm…Yes sir. You treat me well. I appreciate it.” Isabella replied nervous enough for her to faint.
“That’s a good answer. Now haven’t you heard about the abolition of slaves? You know the one where those people are trying to free ya’ll Negroes.” Dumont asked casually while picking at his nails.
“Yes Mr. Dumont…sir…I’ve heard of it.” Isabella replied but still unsure of Dumont’s questioning.
“Yeah well I was thinking, you are one fine slave I got here. That’s why I treat you so good. Then I thought why would I want to get rid of a slave like that? Then I thought well I’m being selfish because Isabella deserves freedom. So, how would you like it if I let you out early if you work hard…I mean really hard to my approval.” Dumont propositioned.
Isabella sat there for a moment shocked by what Dumont was saying. What if this man is fooling with me? Isabella thought.
“Issy, did you here what I just said,” Dumont questioned while trying to get Isabella’s attention.
“I am so sorry Mr. Dumont. Yes I heard you. That sounds great! Are you really going to let me be free?” Isabella asked excitedly.
“Isn’t that what I just said Issy?” Dumont said becoming frustrated. Then he began to walk off.
“Mr. Dumont thank you so much! I will work so hard for my freedom!” Isabella yelled after him. He never turned back around to acknowledge what she’d just said.
“Grandpa Tillwater, so you mean to tell me this man just asked her if she wants freedom.” I asked becoming indulged in the story. “What kind of question is that? Of course she wants freedom.
Grandpa chuckled before responding to the 12 year old. “Well Linda, he wanted to mess with good old Sojourner, he wanted to know her answer.” Grandpa said.
“Huh?! This man is dumb; common sense would tell him that she would say yes to wanting freedom. That’s like Sojourner asking him if he would rather live in a mansion or live in a shack and be poor.” I replied becoming agitated with the characters in the story. “Why do you keep on calling her Isabella Grandpa? Isn’t her name Sojourner?” I asked with a confused expression on my face.
“Linda, baby, hush…I will soon tell you.” Grandpa Tillwater chuckled, and then continued his story with Linda paying close attention.
Over the past year, Isabella worked her hardest at everything. She always went over the top. If Mr. Dumont told her to clean his living room, she’d clean all of the rooms thoroughly plus, she’d leave a beautiful scent that would have the Dumont family begging Isabella to clean there mansion. But also, Isabella worked too much and got an arm injury causing her right arm to move slower, but that didn’t stop Isabella from working hard.
The day had come for Isabella to be released. She’d prepared a goodbye dinner for her family, and her family made new clothes for Isabella and everything.
“You be careful out there do you here me?” Thomas said while hugging Isabella with there infant baby girl.
“Okay Thomas, I’m going to miss you and the kids, I promise when I get the chance I will come back for ya’ll.” Isabella promised. With that said she headed to the Dumont’s house.
“Knock” “Knock” Knock,” Isabella knocked on Mr. Dumont’s mansion door. Soon there was a reply from his wife. “Yes Issy, how may I help you?” Mrs. Dumont asked sternly.
“Umm…Hi Mrs. Dumont. Can I speak to your husband he’s setting me free!” Isabella spoke overly excited.
“Oh really…hmmm.” Mrs. Dumont said mischievously before going to get her husband. Soon Mr. Dumont came to the door.
“Hi Mr. Dumont! I’m ready to leave now…for my freedom.” Isabella said cheerfully with bright eyes.
“Oh yeah, about that. You aren’t leaving; you disobeyed me because you messed up your arm. So go put your bags back because you’re staying here.” Dumont said casually then closed the door in Isabella’s face.
“Mr. Dumont, what are you talking about?” Isabella whispered in a tone only she could here. Her voice began to crack and she couldn’t take it anymore. A waterfall of tears began to fall from her face. “I hate him, I hate all men. Actually I hate all White men for that matter Isabella said before picking up her bags to walk back to her shack.
As Isabella walked back to her shack her children and Thomas came running by her side and asking her what’s wrong. After so much explanation, Isabella became angry with everyone. All night Isabella sat up thinking about how wrong Mr. Dumont had treated her. She became angrier with herself for not standing up to him, but what much could she possibly do. Angry Isabella silently woke up to spin wool of thread to make a blanket and make a sack dinner. She gathered all of her things and her infant baby girl’s things to set off.
“I can’t stay here, I need my freedom and so does this poor infant.” Isabella thought to herself.
She then quietly picked up her baby and got her things to leave. “I’m sorry family but I gotta go.” Isabella whispered to herself. The door silently creaked open and that was the last Isabella saw of her family before leaving for the North and her freedom.
“Well Linda enough about ol’ Sojourner for now let’s go eat lunch.” Grandpa Tillwater said as he began to stand up.
“Grandpa that’s not fair! Can you please finish the story? You know what I’ll go in the kitchen and make a sandwich real quick and bring it to you. Then you can finish the story as you eat.” Linda didn’t even let her grandfather respond she quickly made two turkey sandwiches and proceeded back to the living room to let her grandfather finish his story.
Grandpa Tillwater could do nothing but shake his head and laugh at his granddaughter. She had just been whining for him to leave her alone so that she could watch television, and now she’s begging him to finish the story.
“Okay, well where did I leave off…oh yes, Isabella had run away with her baby…
“Oh baby, please hush! Ya’ mama cain’t leave them crackers if you keep on crying!” Isabella hissed in her infant’s ear that couldn’t understand a word she was saying.
“Are you hungry?” Isabella asked her wailing baby pleadingly as she fed her baby her heavy breast filled with generations of mother milk.
Isabella began feeding her baby all the while hiding behind the cluster of bushes and looking out for Whites with their Nigger-sniffing dogs. That’s exactly why she rubbed pepper on her clothes.
Isabella began to hear rustling and yelling from afar in the woods. She quickly ran to the bushiest bush she could find and put her hand over her baby’s mouth so that she could quiet her.
“Where’s that old Nigger, Isabella? How dare her try to leave me but I’ll get her as soon as I find her! Yup, I’ll give her a whipping she’ll never forget!” Mr. Dumont spoke from afar to one of his sidekicks.
“Hey boss I don’t think she’s here, we’ve looked for the past 5 hours and we haven’t found anything! We should just put out a notice with a reward so that we can have more onlookers to help us!” Gerald, the sidekick suggested, obviously tired of looking.
“Yeah, you’re probably right but I’ll be back for that good-for-nothing heifer Isabella!” Mr. Dumont shouted as he fired his pistol in the air before he hopped on his horse to set off home.
With that said Isabella ran; she ran as fast and quietly as she could with her baby. She went through thorn bushes, swam through little streams and slept in logs or in bushes. After about 3 days of just running, Isabella had forgotten all about eating. Her only concern was reaching the North all the while caring for her infant baby girl. So for a whole day Isabella decided to rest and look for food. In the area Isabella was located, the countryside of West Virginia, there was plenty of growing fruits and vegetables but Isabella needed to make sure to be inconspicuous with stealing the rednecks agriculture because they’d snitch on her for sure and take her back to Mr. Dumont.
“Sarah, your mommy needs to make a change. I can’t be going by ol’ Isabella Baumfree, I’m a changing woman and that’s my slave name. I am no longer a slave, right sweetie?” Isabella conversed with her non-verbal infant, Sarah. The only form of reply she received from her daughter was babbles.
“Okay, I don’t know why on earth I am talking to you; you don’t understand what I’m saying.” Sojourner sighed as she placed her baby in the baby-holding backpack she made herself, and began taking water from the nearby well, which was owned by Whites.
“Hey! What do you think you are doing over there?” Speak of the devil; the White man had spotted Isabella.
“Oh no! I’ll be turned in for sure!” Isabella thought to herself all the while contemplating whether she should run or just confront the White fellow.
“I say what’chu thank ya doin ova there,” the man spoke with a southern drawl that frightened Isabella.
“Um, sir, I’m sorry to be goin’ off up in ya well ova here’ but me and my baby jus’ wanna be free, and we ain’t got no kinda food or water.” Isabella spoke with much fright in her voice all the while she was trying to fix her rugged material she called clothes.
“Uh huh, so what’s ya name, I’m Willy.” The man said becoming friendlier with Isabella as he stuck a toothpick in his mouth and fixed his cowboy hat.
Isabella began to eye the man suspiciously and thought, Should I trust this White man? He could be fixin’ to turn me in to crazy ol’ Mr. Dumont in exchange of money. Should I even tell him my real name? What is my name because I damn sure don’t wanna be called Isabella Baumfree. I’m on a journey to freedom.
“Uh sir, my name is…my name is Truth…Sojourner Truth to be exact, sir.” Isabella spoke of her newfound name with glee on her face.
“Huh, Sojourner. That’s different but I’ll take you to wherever it is you is tryna go cause I don’t take a likin to them racist fools…or people messin’ with my well.” Willy chuckled at Sojourner’s attempt to take water from his well.
“Oh I’m so sorry, Mister Willy I was just thirsty and my baby…” Sojourner spoke all the while caressing her sleeping infant baby Sarah across her delicate ebony skin.
“Oh no, don’t apologize but come on into my home so that I can get you washed up and fed, we need to hit the rode early tomorrow before the slave masters come out lookin for you.” Willy spoke as he began leading Sojourner down the dirt road to his farmhouse home.
“Oh okay Grandpa, so that’s why Sojourner Truth’s name was Isabella Baumfree before Sojourner Truth. I was thinking you were mixing up the story or something, but I have a question…Is that White man Willy setting Sojourner up because if so he is wrong for doing that?
“Baby, if keep on interrupting me, I won’t be able t finish the story.” Grandpa Tillwater chuckled as he struggled to get out of his seat to look out of the window at local cops that often circled his block.
“Hmm…I see some things never change, there are still racist people in the world, especially these cops. If mostly White folks lived in this neighborhood, I bet they’d never circle the block like they do now!” Grandpa Tillwater spoke with irritation in his voice to no one in particular.
“Yeah…I guess so, but Grandpa are you going to finish the story because I really wanna finish the story.” Linda spoke trying to switch the subject and not really worried about her grandfather’s concerns.
“Girl, I’m gettin’ about tired of you rushing me. I’ll finish the story whenever I please!” Grandpa Tillwater said as he began walking across the slightly dingy floor to once again sit in his favorite chair.
“Sorry Grandpa, it’s just it’s taking you an awful long time to get to the point if the story you always stop in the middle of a good part of the story.” Linda apologized as she began to daze at the ceiling.
“Correction, you always interrupt me in the middle of the story. But anyway where was I? Grandpa Tillwater pondered.
“Thank ya so much Willy for helping me! I don’t know what I’d do without you. I don’t know how I’d ever repay you!” Sojourner spoke with excitement of going to what she called Freedom land as she looked out of Willy’s old automobile window and cradled her baby.
“Oh don’t ya worry ‘bout repayin’ me I just want ya’ to be somethin’ successful, that’s how you can repay me. “Oh here’s ya stop, I cain’t go to far in the city wit’ ya cause there is still a buncha racicts here as well. Just take this address; the lady knows what to do.” Willy instructed as he handed Sojourner a card with an address on it.
“Alright Willy, oh Willy thank ya so much I’ve never known a man as nice as you!” Sojourner said as she reached out to hug Willy.
“Your Welcome, Just remember what I said, Become someone successful!” Willy reminded Sojourner as he hugged her back and prepared himself to head back home.
“Okay Will I promise I will!” Sojourner promised as she got out of the car and took a look at the huge city of Whites and a few Blacks. Then as Sojourner began to fix her new satin flower dress Willy had gotten for her, She looked up to see a “Whites Only, Black not allowed sign” sign.
“Oh boy Sarah, we gotta deal wit’ even more discrimination here!” Sojouner whined to her baby who had not a care in the world.
“Alright well lemme fix your clothes I don’t wanna make a bad impression for this…” Sojourner looked down at the card that Willy had given her, “Umm…Diane.” Sojourner said with a baffled look covering her middle-aged woman face.
“Well I don’t understand addresses so I mise’ well ask around ‘til I find someone that’ll help me.” Sojourner spoke as she eyed a White businessman who had a grin that covered his face.
“Umm, excuse me mista’ but I was wonderin’ if-
“You better get out of my face Blackie. I don’t tolerate any wide-nosed monkeys talking to me, better yet breathing my air, you Black women better stay in your place and do what you do best which is spred your legs and have babies!” The White man spoke with such enmity that was obvious he had a bias against Blacks.
“Excuse me sir, but that was uncalled for, I just wanted some help, but you obviously cain’t help wit that!” Sojourner said catching even herself off guard because she’d never spoken up for herself before.
“Heifer, I will have you locked up, better yet I’d have you for myself!” The man argued back with a malicious grin covering his face.
“Whatever, I don’t have time for this me and my baby needs to be headin home. Ima’ walk off like the adult person I am.” Sojourner said recollecting herself and holding onto Sarah for dear life as she began to head down the street to a Black woman that looked similar to her.
I gotta remember that I’m not all the way free. These White men here hate Blacks…especially women! Sojourner thought to herself.
“Excuse me folks, can ya’ll help me find this address, I’m new here fresh from slavery.” Sojourner asked the Black family, still trying to clear her mind from the racist White man. All the while staying cool, calm and collected with the people more similar in appearance with her.
“Oh sure sista, we actually headed over there, that’s where we live.” The Black woman spoke with a friendly and bubbly southern smile. “What’s yo’ name anyway?”
“Oh thank ya sista but my name is Sojourner…Sojourner Truth!” Sojourner spoke glad to be able to tell her new name to someone else. “What’s ya name?” Sojourner spoke as she began to cross the street with the Black woman.
“Oh my name is Gloria.” Gloria introduced herself as she made a right and walked towards a small shack that she called home.
“Is this your home?” Sojourner asked a little confused because it only had 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom.
“Well actually it’s Mama Florida’s but she passed so her will was to share this home with all poor folks.
“Oh…so how many people live here?” Sojourner asked as she placed Sarah in a corner with comforters for cushioning, so that she could sleep more comfortably.
“Oh well…it all depends sometimes 10 people sometimes 15, it all depends on the day, but I’m kinda like the manager of this little place.” Gloria explained as she too off her jacket and headed towards the kitchen to prepare dinner for the soon to be full house.
“Oh wow a full house ain’t it?” Sojourner said surprised.
“Well you bets get used to it cause you gon’ live like this for a long time unless a change is made for Blacks…especially women.” Gloria spoke calmly not realizing she spoke words that would forever stay in Sojourner’s mind…
“Grandpa, when is Sojourner Truth gonna make a change for Blacks?” Linda asked once again interrupting Grandpa Tillwater in the middle of his story.”
“Linda! I’m gettin’ about sick of you interupptin’ me in the middle of the story, now you either wanna here the story or you don’t cause if you interrupt me again I won’t be telling the rest of the story.” Grandpa Tillwater said becoming agitated with Linda.
“Okay Grandpa, I promise this time I won’t interrupt.” Linda promised.
Many months passed and Sojourner was working steadily as a nanny for White families. She cooked, cleaned and made sure the children did all of their homework. Sojourner was expecting more in the life of freedom instead of doing the same chores for White folks as she did as a slave.
“I need to change the life for Blacks… and women for that matter,” Sojourner mumbled to herself as she cleaned the feces infested toilet in the Johnson’s bathroom, one of the richest families in the city. The Johnson family was a family full of workaholics, the family came home for about 3 hours a day and within that three hours they always happened to ruin the whole house, which was more work for Sojourner.
“My name don’t mean nothing right now. Humph… Sojourner Truth, I’m more like Isabella Baumfree the slave. Sojourner Truth means a woman with a journey…a woman that’s a world leader…none of them fancy titles fit me!” Sojourner hissed at herself becoming angry at the moment.
“This mess ain’t for me!” Sojourner said as she got up to leave the Johnson’s fancy brick house.
As Sojourner was walking down the street, she noticed women protesting Women Rights. She instantly became infatuated with the struggle of these women.
“See…now this is what I’m talking ‘bout. I wanna be in a movement like this that help the minorities, Instead of always helpin’ the White man.” Sojourner whispered to herself as she began to walk towards the first Black woman she saw.
“Excuse me miss, but what is you shoutin’ ‘bout?” Sojourner asked wanting to understand more about there protest.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t here about the new struggle called the Women Rights Movement? Oh…well, you’ve got lots to learn. It’s about people comin’ together…most of em’ is women…but folks comin’ together to help Women have equal Rights as men.” The woman explained to Sojourner all the while chanting with her circle of women protesting as well.
“Oh really…what does it take to join?” Sojourner asked becoming interested with the fight for rights.
“Oh so you wanna join…well it don’t take much you just gotta start protesin’ and comin’ to the meetings. You also gotta make yourself known in the Womens Rights Movement.” The woman stopped protesting to reply to Sojourner’s question. “You know you should join we are tryna recruit as many people as possible so that they can understand us and our beliefs.”
“Yeah I’ll join, I’ve been in America for months now and I’ve been tryna figure out what I wanna do to make change in America.” Sojourner replied with a warm smile.
“Well get to protestin’ then…By the way what is your name?” The woman asked as she got Sojourner a sign to protest with.
“My name is Sojourner Truth…Yup that’s my name!” Sojourner replied with glee happy she was finally able to identify herself as a Black woman instead of a Nigger slave.
“Oh really I like that name…my name is Bessa Mae, you can just call me Bessa. Come over here so that I can introduce you to the other women!” Bessa said as she began to walk towards the other crowd of protestors. Sojourner actually began to feel a place in life. She had a new belief, which was women rights, and she was beginning to feel an importance being a free woman in America.
“All right Bessa, here I come!” Sojourner said as she ran towards the protesting group.
March 3, 2007
Sojourner Story
Bert, A
From Nobody to Somebody: The Struggle of Sojourner Truth
“Grandpa! I don’t feel like hearing a story, I just want to go to watch T.V.” Linda whined at her grandfather who was yet again trying to tell her another untrue/true folktale. You see Grandpa Tillwater was never the type to tell an all the way true story. It was always a folktale in which her Grandpa would add something that was false or gave a lesson.
“Shut up with that whining Linda and come here and let Grandpa tell you a story about a woman named Sojourner Truth.” Grandpa said while walking on his cane to the small but decent living room couch.
“I don’t wanna here a story or a folktale… or whatever you call it. I just want to watch MTV’s Sweet Sixteen!” Linda whined again, and then turned her head to watch the obnoxious teenage girls that threw temper tantrums over money and their party. Grandpa then turned his direction to Linda’s favorite show, and a look of disgust covered grandpa’s face as he placed the wooden pipe in his mouth…
“Turn this crap off and come here! You don’t learn anything from that junk!” Grandpa ordered more sternly than before. As Linda got up to turn off the small colored television, she mumbled harsh things about Grandpa Tillwater the whole time.
“Do I hear you talking back Linda?” Grandpa asked his face beginning to wrinkle up and his nose beginning to flare.
“No Grandpa.” Linda said solemnly. While fixing her clothes on her skinny frame.
“All right then…you better not be. But anyway I’ma tell you a story about Ms. Sojourner Truth. Yeah, Ms. Truth was a good woman, she was a fighter too. But let’s get into the story…”
The year was 1825 and Isabella Baumfree was steadily picking cotton through the dangerous fields in the hot and sticky weather on her slave master Mr. Dumont’s plantation. (The fields were the most dangerous. It consisted of poisonous snakes and lizards, and many died from high temperature.) She was dripping from perspiration and her back ached from steadily bending over. The grass in the fields was brown and poky. Isabella’s dingy and wet clothes barely covered her body, and she wore no shoes or socks…just the ripped clothing she made, and the skin on her back. This caused her skin to be fairly rough and appear dirty.
“Issabella! Oh Isssyyy-Bellllllaaa!” Isabella’s husband Thomas called beckoning attention from Isabella who was in her own world staring deep in thought at a eagle flying freely in the hot summer sky. “Isabella!” Thomas called once again, now running towards her to get her attention, which caused his huge belly to flop as he ran.
“Oh I’m so sorry Thomas; I just have a lot on my mine. What is it, dear?” Isabella said still slightly dazed as she awaited Thomas’s’ news.
“Issy, are you thinking about freedom again? If so, I told you to not worry about free will, I don’t want to ruin your dreams but freedom isn’t supposed to be in your or my vocabulary. Negroes don’t get it, we are here to work, so get up and get to work before we get a whipping and I know you don’t want that.” Thomas reasoned with such authority, while wiping sweat off of his forehead.
“Thomas, don’t worry about it. Now I told you to stop assuming what I’m thinking, you ain’t me, honey.” Isabella spoke slightly annoyed with Thomas’s presence. She’d never loved Thomas romantically. In fact she was forced marriage by Mr. Dumont. Isabella already had a loved one by the name of Robert, who lived on another plantation. Robert’s plantation owner didn’t approve Isabella and Robert’s love for each other so he separated the two by beating Robert senseless. Robert never returned to see Isabella again.
“I know Issy, I’m sorry. I just worry about you sometimes since you tend to always zone out in deep thought.” Thomas replied with sincerity.
“It’s okay Thomas; I worry about myself at times. But let’s go back to the shack to start preparing dinner for Dumont and his family. You already know he’s impatient. Isabella said. With that said Thomas and Isabella headed home with a large stack of cotton from the fields.
As soon as Isabella headed to the shack she called home, (which was broke down and had no windows that opened. Isabella’s whole family slept on the floor in fear the house would break down because of the weight the cot would carry.) she busied herself with Dumont’s dinner, and Thomas got the kids ready. Together they had 34 children; all were close in age, so they naturally had a close bond.
Soon, Isabella was ready to go to the Dumont Mansion to serve dinner. Isabella loved going to the mansion, she loved the expensive things Mr. Dumont had in his house; such as leather furniture, gold and chandeliers. All of the things had Isabella in a state of awe. Isabella had great cooking skills and was always ordered to the Dumont mansion to cook. This certain night, Isabella made hush puppies, cornbread, chicken, and gumbo. All dishes happened to be Mr. Dumont’s favorite. After being praised graciously by Dumont’s wife for Isabella’s expertise skills in cooking, Dumont pulled Isabella to the side.
“Isabella, am I good to you?” Dumont asked while picking the meat that lay between his teeth.
“Umm…Yes sir. You treat me well. I appreciate it.” Isabella replied nervous enough for her to faint.
“That’s a good answer. Now haven’t you heard about the abolition of slaves? You know the one where those people are trying to free ya’ll Negroes.” Dumont asked casually while picking at his nails.
“Yes Mr. Dumont…sir…I’ve heard of it.” Isabella replied but still unsure of Dumont’s questioning.
“Yeah well I was thinking, you are one fine slave I got here. That’s why I treat you so good. Then I thought why would I want to get rid of a slave like that? Then I thought well I’m being selfish because Isabella deserves freedom. So, how would you like it if I let you out early if you work hard…I mean really hard to my approval.” Dumont propositioned.
Isabella sat there for a moment shocked by what Dumont was saying. What if this man is fooling with me? Isabella thought.
“Issy, did you here what I just said,” Dumont questioned while trying to get Isabella’s attention.
“I am so sorry Mr. Dumont. Yes I heard you. That sounds great! Are you really going to let me be free?” Isabella asked excitedly.
“Isn’t that what I just said Issy?” Dumont said becoming frustrated. Then he began to walk off.
“Mr. Dumont thank you so much! I will work so hard for my freedom!” Isabella yelled after him. He never turned back around to acknowledge what she’d just said.
“Grandpa Tillwater, so you mean to tell me this man just asked her if she wants freedom.” I asked becoming indulged in the story. “What kind of question is that? Of course she wants freedom.
Grandpa chuckled before responding to the 12 year old. “Well Linda, he wanted to mess with good old Sojourner, he wanted to know her answer.” Grandpa said.
“Huh?! This man is dumb; common sense would tell him that she would say yes to wanting freedom. That’s like Sojourner asking him if he would rather live in a mansion or live in a shack and be poor.” I replied becoming agitated with the characters in the story. “Why do you keep on calling her Isabella Grandpa? Isn’t her name Sojourner?” I asked with a confused expression on my face.
“Linda, baby, hush…I will soon tell you.” Grandpa Tillwater chuckled, and then continued his story with Linda paying close attention.
Over the past year, Isabella worked her hardest at everything. She always went over the top. If Mr. Dumont told her to clean his living room, she’d clean all of the rooms thoroughly plus, she’d leave a beautiful scent that would have the Dumont family begging Isabella to clean there mansion. But also, Isabella worked too much and got an arm injury causing her right arm to move slower, but that didn’t stop Isabella from working hard.
The day had come for Isabella to be released. She’d prepared a goodbye dinner for her family, and her family made new clothes for Isabella and everything.
“You be careful out there do you here me?” Thomas said while hugging Isabella with there infant baby girl.
“Okay Thomas, I’m going to miss you and the kids, I promise when I get the chance I will come back for ya’ll.” Isabella promised. With that said she headed to the Dumont’s house.
“Knock” “Knock” Knock,” Isabella knocked on Mr. Dumont’s mansion door. Soon there was a reply from his wife. “Yes Issy, how may I help you?” Mrs. Dumont asked sternly.
“Umm…Hi Mrs. Dumont. Can I speak to your husband he’s setting me free!” Isabella spoke overly excited.
“Oh really…hmmm.” Mrs. Dumont said mischievously before going to get her husband. Soon Mr. Dumont came to the door.
“Hi Mr. Dumont! I’m ready to leave now…for my freedom.” Isabella said cheerfully with bright eyes.
“Oh yeah, about that. You aren’t leaving; you disobeyed me because you messed up your arm. So go put your bags back because you’re staying here.” Dumont said casually then closed the door in Isabella’s face.
“Mr. Dumont, what are you talking about?” Isabella whispered in a tone only she could here. Her voice began to crack and she couldn’t take it anymore. A waterfall of tears began to fall from her face. “I hate him, I hate all men. Actually I hate all White men for that matter Isabella said before picking up her bags to walk back to her shack.
As Isabella walked back to her shack her children and Thomas came running by her side and asking her what’s wrong. After so much explanation, Isabella became angry with everyone. All night Isabella sat up thinking about how wrong Mr. Dumont had treated her. She became angrier with herself for not standing up to him, but what much could she possibly do. Angry Isabella silently woke up to spin wool of thread to make a blanket and make a sack dinner. She gathered all of her things and her infant baby girl’s things to set off.
“I can’t stay here, I need my freedom and so does this poor infant.” Isabella thought to herself.
She then quietly picked up her baby and got her things to leave. “I’m sorry family but I gotta go.” Isabella whispered to herself. The door silently creaked open and that was the last Isabella saw of her family before leaving for the North and her freedom.
“Well Linda enough about ol’ Sojourner for now let’s go eat lunch.” Grandpa Tillwater said as he began to stand up.
“Grandpa that’s not fair! Can you please finish the story? You know what I’ll go in the kitchen and make a sandwich real quick and bring it to you. Then you can finish the story as you eat.” Linda didn’t even let her grandfather respond she quickly made two turkey sandwiches and proceeded back to the living room to let her grandfather finish his story.
Grandpa Tillwater could do nothing but shake his head and laugh at his granddaughter. She had just been whining for him to leave her alone so that she could watch television, and now she’s begging him to finish the story.
“Okay, well where did I leave off…oh yes, Isabella had run away with her baby…
“Oh baby, please hush! Ya’ mama cain’t leave them crackers if you keep on crying!” Isabella hissed in her infant’s ear that couldn’t understand a word she was saying.
“Are you hungry?” Isabella asked her wailing baby pleadingly as she fed her baby her heavy breast filled with generations of mother milk.
Isabella began feeding her baby all the while hiding behind the cluster of bushes and looking out for Whites with their Nigger-sniffing dogs. That’s exactly why she rubbed pepper on her clothes.
Isabella began to hear rustling and yelling from afar in the woods. She quickly ran to the bushiest bush she could find and put her hand over her baby’s mouth so that she could quiet her.
“Where’s that old Nigger, Isabella? How dare her try to leave me but I’ll get her as soon as I find her! Yup, I’ll give her a whipping she’ll never forget!” Mr. Dumont spoke from afar to one of his sidekicks.
“Hey boss I don’t think she’s here, we’ve looked for the past 5 hours and we haven’t found anything! We should just put out a notice with a reward so that we can have more onlookers to help us!” Gerald, the sidekick suggested, obviously tired of looking.
“Yeah, you’re probably right but I’ll be back for that good-for-nothing heifer Isabella!” Mr. Dumont shouted as he fired his pistol in the air before he hopped on his horse to set off home.
With that said Isabella ran; she ran as fast and quietly as she could with her baby. She went through thorn bushes, swam through little streams and slept in logs or in bushes. After about 3 days of just running, Isabella had forgotten all about eating. Her only concern was reaching the North all the while caring for her infant baby girl. So for a whole day Isabella decided to rest and look for food. In the area Isabella was located, the countryside of West Virginia, there was plenty of growing fruits and vegetables but Isabella needed to make sure to be inconspicuous with stealing the rednecks agriculture because they’d snitch on her for sure and take her back to Mr. Dumont.
“Sarah, your mommy needs to make a change. I can’t be going by ol’ Isabella Baumfree, I’m a changing woman and that’s my slave name. I am no longer a slave, right sweetie?” Isabella conversed with her non-verbal infant, Sarah. The only form of reply she received from her daughter was babbles.
“Okay, I don’t know why on earth I am talking to you; you don’t understand what I’m saying.” Sojourner sighed as she placed her baby in the baby-holding backpack she made herself, and began taking water from the nearby well, which was owned by Whites.
“Hey! What do you think you are doing over there?” Speak of the devil; the White man had spotted Isabella.
“Oh no! I’ll be turned in for sure!” Isabella thought to herself all the while contemplating whether she should run or just confront the White fellow.
“I say what’chu thank ya doin ova there,” the man spoke with a southern drawl that frightened Isabella.
“Um, sir, I’m sorry to be goin’ off up in ya well ova here’ but me and my baby jus’ wanna be free, and we ain’t got no kinda food or water.” Isabella spoke with much fright in her voice all the while she was trying to fix her rugged material she called clothes.
“Uh huh, so what’s ya name, I’m Willy.” The man said becoming friendlier with Isabella as he stuck a toothpick in his mouth and fixed his cowboy hat.
Isabella began to eye the man suspiciously and thought, Should I trust this White man? He could be fixin’ to turn me in to crazy ol’ Mr. Dumont in exchange of money. Should I even tell him my real name? What is my name because I damn sure don’t wanna be called Isabella Baumfree. I’m on a journey to freedom.
“Uh sir, my name is…my name is Truth…Sojourner Truth to be exact, sir.” Isabella spoke of her newfound name with glee on her face.
“Huh, Sojourner. That’s different but I’ll take you to wherever it is you is tryna go cause I don’t take a likin to them racist fools…or people messin’ with my well.” Willy chuckled at Sojourner’s attempt to take water from his well.
“Oh I’m so sorry, Mister Willy I was just thirsty and my baby…” Sojourner spoke all the while caressing her sleeping infant baby Sarah across her delicate ebony skin.
“Oh no, don’t apologize but come on into my home so that I can get you washed up and fed, we need to hit the rode early tomorrow before the slave masters come out lookin for you.” Willy spoke as he began leading Sojourner down the dirt road to his farmhouse home.
“Oh okay Grandpa, so that’s why Sojourner Truth’s name was Isabella Baumfree before Sojourner Truth. I was thinking you were mixing up the story or something, but I have a question…Is that White man Willy setting Sojourner up because if so he is wrong for doing that?
“Baby, if keep on interrupting me, I won’t be able t finish the story.” Grandpa Tillwater chuckled as he struggled to get out of his seat to look out of the window at local cops that often circled his block.
“Hmm…I see some things never change, there are still racist people in the world, especially these cops. If mostly White folks lived in this neighborhood, I bet they’d never circle the block like they do now!” Grandpa Tillwater spoke with irritation in his voice to no one in particular.
“Yeah…I guess so, but Grandpa are you going to finish the story because I really wanna finish the story.” Linda spoke trying to switch the subject and not really worried about her grandfather’s concerns.
“Girl, I’m gettin’ about tired of you rushing me. I’ll finish the story whenever I please!” Grandpa Tillwater said as he began walking across the slightly dingy floor to once again sit in his favorite chair.
“Sorry Grandpa, it’s just it’s taking you an awful long time to get to the point if the story you always stop in the middle of a good part of the story.” Linda apologized as she began to daze at the ceiling.
“Correction, you always interrupt me in the middle of the story. But anyway where was I? Grandpa Tillwater pondered.
“Thank ya so much Willy for helping me! I don’t know what I’d do without you. I don’t know how I’d ever repay you!” Sojourner spoke with excitement of going to what she called Freedom land as she looked out of Willy’s old automobile window and cradled her baby.
“Oh don’t ya worry ‘bout repayin’ me I just want ya’ to be somethin’ successful, that’s how you can repay me. “Oh here’s ya stop, I cain’t go to far in the city wit’ ya cause there is still a buncha racicts here as well. Just take this address; the lady knows what to do.” Willy instructed as he handed Sojourner a card with an address on it.
“Alright Willy, oh Willy thank ya so much I’ve never known a man as nice as you!” Sojourner said as she reached out to hug Willy.
“Your Welcome, Just remember what I said, Become someone successful!” Willy reminded Sojourner as he hugged her back and prepared himself to head back home.
“Okay Will I promise I will!” Sojourner promised as she got out of the car and took a look at the huge city of Whites and a few Blacks. Then as Sojourner began to fix her new satin flower dress Willy had gotten for her, She looked up to see a “Whites Only, Black not allowed sign” sign.
“Oh boy Sarah, we gotta deal wit’ even more discrimination here!” Sojouner whined to her baby who had not a care in the world.
“Alright well lemme fix your clothes I don’t wanna make a bad impression for this…” Sojourner looked down at the card that Willy had given her, “Umm…Diane.” Sojourner said with a baffled look covering her middle-aged woman face.
“Well I don’t understand addresses so I mise’ well ask around ‘til I find someone that’ll help me.” Sojourner spoke as she eyed a White businessman who had a grin that covered his face.
“Umm, excuse me mista’ but I was wonderin’ if-
“You better get out of my face Blackie. I don’t tolerate any wide-nosed monkeys talking to me, better yet breathing my air, you Black women better stay in your place and do what you do best which is spred your legs and have babies!” The White man spoke with such enmity that was obvious he had a bias against Blacks.
“Excuse me sir, but that was uncalled for, I just wanted some help, but you obviously cain’t help wit that!” Sojourner said catching even herself off guard because she’d never spoken up for herself before.
“Heifer, I will have you locked up, better yet I’d have you for myself!” The man argued back with a malicious grin covering his face.
“Whatever, I don’t have time for this me and my baby needs to be headin home. Ima’ walk off like the adult person I am.” Sojourner said recollecting herself and holding onto Sarah for dear life as she began to head down the street to a Black woman that looked similar to her.
I gotta remember that I’m not all the way free. These White men here hate Blacks…especially women! Sojourner thought to herself.
“Excuse me folks, can ya’ll help me find this address, I’m new here fresh from slavery.” Sojourner asked the Black family, still trying to clear her mind from the racist White man. All the while staying cool, calm and collected with the people more similar in appearance with her.
“Oh sure sista, we actually headed over there, that’s where we live.” The Black woman spoke with a friendly and bubbly southern smile. “What’s yo’ name anyway?”
“Oh thank ya sista but my name is Sojourner…Sojourner Truth!” Sojourner spoke glad to be able to tell her new name to someone else. “What’s ya name?” Sojourner spoke as she began to cross the street with the Black woman.
“Oh my name is Gloria.” Gloria introduced herself as she made a right and walked towards a small shack that she called home.
“Is this your home?” Sojourner asked a little confused because it only had 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom.
“Well actually it’s Mama Florida’s but she passed so her will was to share this home with all poor folks.
“Oh…so how many people live here?” Sojourner asked as she placed Sarah in a corner with comforters for cushioning, so that she could sleep more comfortably.
“Oh well…it all depends sometimes 10 people sometimes 15, it all depends on the day, but I’m kinda like the manager of this little place.” Gloria explained as she too off her jacket and headed towards the kitchen to prepare dinner for the soon to be full house.
“Oh wow a full house ain’t it?” Sojourner said surprised.
“Well you bets get used to it cause you gon’ live like this for a long time unless a change is made for Blacks…especially women.” Gloria spoke calmly not realizing she spoke words that would forever stay in Sojourner’s mind…
“Grandpa, when is Sojourner Truth gonna make a change for Blacks?” Linda asked once again interrupting Grandpa Tillwater in the middle of his story.”
“Linda! I’m gettin’ about sick of you interupptin’ me in the middle of the story, now you either wanna here the story or you don’t cause if you interrupt me again I won’t be telling the rest of the story.” Grandpa Tillwater said becoming agitated with Linda.
“Okay Grandpa, I promise this time I won’t interrupt.” Linda promised.
Many months passed and Sojourner was working steadily as a nanny for White families. She cooked, cleaned and made sure the children did all of their homework. Sojourner was expecting more in the life of freedom instead of doing the same chores for White folks as she did as a slave.
“I need to change the life for Blacks… and women for that matter,” Sojourner mumbled to herself as she cleaned the feces infested toilet in the Johnson’s bathroom, one of the richest families in the city. The Johnson family was a family full of workaholics, the family came home for about 3 hours a day and within that three hours they always happened to ruin the whole house, which was more work for Sojourner.
“My name don’t mean nothing right now. Humph… Sojourner Truth, I’m more like Isabella Baumfree the slave. Sojourner Truth means a woman with a journey…a woman that’s a world leader…none of them fancy titles fit me!” Sojourner hissed at herself becoming angry at the moment.
“This mess ain’t for me!” Sojourner said as she got up to leave the Johnson’s fancy brick house.
As Sojourner was walking down the street, she noticed women protesting Women Rights. She instantly became infatuated with the struggle of these women.
“See…now this is what I’m talking ‘bout. I wanna be in a movement like this that help the minorities, Instead of always helpin’ the White man.” Sojourner whispered to herself as she began to walk towards the first Black woman she saw.
“Excuse me miss, but what is you shoutin’ ‘bout?” Sojourner asked wanting to understand more about there protest.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t here about the new struggle called the Women Rights Movement? Oh…well, you’ve got lots to learn. It’s about people comin’ together…most of em’ is women…but folks comin’ together to help Women have equal Rights as men.” The woman explained to Sojourner all the while chanting with her circle of women protesting as well.
“Oh really…what does it take to join?” Sojourner asked becoming interested with the fight for rights.
“Oh so you wanna join…well it don’t take much you just gotta start protesin’ and comin’ to the meetings. You also gotta make yourself known in the Womens Rights Movement.” The woman stopped protesting to reply to Sojourner’s question. “You know you should join we are tryna recruit as many people as possible so that they can understand us and our beliefs.”
“Yeah I’ll join, I’ve been in America for months now and I’ve been tryna figure out what I wanna do to make change in America.” Sojourner replied with a warm smile.
“Well get to protestin’ then…By the way what is your name?” The woman asked as she got Sojourner a sign to protest with.
“My name is Sojourner Truth…Yup that’s my name!” Sojourner replied with glee happy she was finally able to identify herself as a Black woman instead of a Nigger slave.
“Oh really I like that name…my name is Bessa Mae, you can just call me Bessa. Come over here so that I can introduce you to the other women!” Bessa said as she began to walk towards the other crowd of protestors. Sojourner actually began to feel a place in life. She had a new belief, which was women rights, and she was beginning to feel an importance being a free woman in America.
“All right Bessa, here I come!” Sojourner said as she ran towards the protesting group.
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