Review of "Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman?," by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack

 Review of

Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman?, by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, ISBN 0590446916

Five out of five stars

A biography of a remarkable woman risen from slavery

 It is an unfortunate fact of history that only a few blacks were able to begin their lives as slaves and then somehow rise up to positions of influence and respect. Born into slavery with the name Isabella in the year 1797, she was freed in 1827. However, before she achieved her freedom, she suffered some of the worst abuses of slavery. She was beaten and had her children taken from her and sold off. Isabella also watched her parents suffer in poverty, even after they also achieved their freedom.

 Taking the name Sojourner Truth after she was freed, she became a powerful voice in speaking out against slavery and for the rights of women. Once, when a male member of the audience questioned whether she was in fact a woman, she unbuttoned her blouse and exposed her breast to demonstrate that she was in fact female. Sojourner rose to a position of great influence in the movement against slavery, even having an audience with President Lincoln.

 As the pressure to disclaim what slavery was really like for black people mounts, books like this become even more important. They explain to the readers what a total abomination slavery was. It also points out that there were many whites that were the spearhead pushing for the abolition of slavery. Sojourner was the recipient of many acts of kindness from people, without which she could not have been the force that she was.