Although IWD is celebrated on March 8th, there are so many women whose work has improved numerous lives throughout the world, some of who are our very own, within the IAM. Throughout the month of March we will feature women from different parts of the world and historical eras to remind us that the women’s movement indeed has deep and long roots. Follow us as we learn together about women who have left a mark on history and society.
IWD 2021 – Sojourner Truth- United States of America
Pioneering feminist, Black emancipationist, preacher and poet who was born into slavery, but would later escape with the help of an abolitionist family. After she moved to New York City she became a charismatic preacher, helping enslaved people escape. She was a passionate advocate for abolitionism, and for women’s rights, including women’s suffrage. During the civil war, Truth assisted the Union side, and after the war she helped people formerly enslaved in the South build new lives, often as wage workers. Truth remained active until the end of her long life, spending time in her later years campaigning for land redistribution to formally enslaved people – which was famously promised as “40 acres and a mule”, but was never delivered.
She is also immortalised for her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech.
(Source: Working Class History)
