Process

1.  You will begin by reading some biographical information about Sojourner Truth. Read http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/trut-soj.htm  and the additional site http://www.sojournertruth.org/Library/Archive/LegacyOfFaith.htm  Then complete 'Worksheet #1 - Background Information" to prepare for the class discussion. You may use the worksheet given out in class or answer the questions listed below on a separate sheet of paper.

Worksheet #1:  Background Information  

  1. List important information about Sojourner Truth's birth, family background and birth name. 
  2. Briefly describe her life as a slave.
  3. Describe how she goes from slave to a famous speaker for various social causes.
  4. List some of her activities relating to the abolitionist movement.  
  5. What were some of the dilemmas she faced and what opportunities was she given?
  6. Analyze how Sojourner Truth demonstrated leadership.

2.  Primary source documents are an excellent way to learn about leaders, their characteristics, dilemmas and opportunities. You will now read an important speech given by Sojourner Truth  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.html and complete "Worksheet #2:  Ain't I a Woman?".  You may use the worksheet given out in class or answer the questions listed below on a separate sheet of paper.

Worksheet #2:  Ain?t I a Woman?

  1. List the major points that Sojourner Truth is making in this speech. 
  2. Describe the language used in the speech. What does this tell us about the speaker?

  1. What can you learn about Truth from this speech?    
  2. How do you think people (political leaders, ordinary citizens, slaves, slave holders, women, and religious leaders) reacted to this speech? Be specific.

3.  You will now divide into your groups as assigned by your instructor for this diary project. Each member of the group will become an expert on one of the aspects listed below by reading the appropriate links. Experts should take notes on information that can be used to enhance the dairies. When each member has completed their research, the group will reassemble and share the results.

   Slavery Expert:                                                                        

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/slavery/              

 

 

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/black_voices/black_voices.cfm

 

   Abolitionist Movement Expert: 

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam005.html

 

http://americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/brief.htm

   Antebellum Expert:  

http://www.academicamerican.com/expansioncw/index.html

 

http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/17841865/index.htm

 

   Primary Source Expert:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAStruth.htm

 

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html

 

http://afroamhistory.about.com/library/blsojourner_truth_index.htm

 

4.  Your group will now write a diary using the template provided. Be sure to use all the experts and their information to make a diary that provides accurate historical information, detail,and  good use of primary source documents.

Sojourner Truth?s Diary  

General Directions:  Your group will create four diary entries as described below. Use the information that you have gathered to create detailed, historical accurate and interesting entries. Each entry should be at least one page in length and be free of grammatical and spelling errors.  Since this is a diary, write from a first person point of view. Creativity can be used to enhance the diary; however, always be sure to be accurate to the time period.

 

Entry One: 1826, Day of Freedom

            Today is the day that Sojourner Truth became a free woman. Since this is the first entry, you will want to give the reader some background information on her life up to this point. Describe her life as a slave and what circumstances resulted in her freedom. Be sure to mention any family members, her participation in religious groups and other important information. Since diaries are personal, your entry should contain personal thoughts, feelings and reactions to her situations and the problems she thinks she will face.

 

Entry Two:  1854, Ohio Women?s Rights Convention

            Today is the day when Sojourner Truth gave one of her most dramatic speeches to the Ohio Women?s Rights Convention. In this entry, discuss her possible reasons for giving this speech, her feelings about being an African American woman, and how she arrived at those famous words, ?Ain?t I a woman?.  You may also want to add background as to how she got to this point in her life of activism.

 

Entry Three:  A Significant Day in her life between the years 1855-1879

            You and your group will chose any major event in Sojourner Truth?s life that occurred between these dates to discuss in this entry. Be sure to include the background of the event, her participation in it and how it personally affected her. You should also include any dilemma that the event caused her and/or opportunity that arose from it.

   

Entry Four:  July 1883

            Sojourner Truth is close to the end of her life. This final entry should reflect her feelings at this time in relationship to her life, her family, her participation in the Abolitionist and Women?s Rights Movement and other areas of political and religious involvement. How does she view her accomplishments and how does she describe the role that she has played in the development of the United States? 

 

Be sure to check on the following books located in the MHS Media Center for additional information. Call numbers are provided for your use.

   Hakim, Joy.  Liberty for All.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1994.  973.6 HAK

   Helmer, Diane Star.  Women Suffragists. New York: Facts on File, 1998.  324.62 HEL

   Krass, Peter.  Sojourner Truth. New York: Chelsea House, 1998.  B TRU

   Painter, Nell Irvin.  Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol. New York: W.W.Norton, 1997.  B TRU

   Black Abolitionists.  Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press/Thomson/Gale, 2204.  973.7 BLA

5. As a concluding activity, each member of the group will read one portion of the diary to the class.