A Woman with a Message

A Woman with a Message
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 by Susan Lyttek

Today’s post mostly consists of an excerpt from a book of monologs I wrote a while ago. (I think it is some of my best work, but it has never been published.) In that light, it is fiction. But the woman was not. I studied the transcripts of her speeches before I wrote this, so while it is not her actual words, it is said the way she would have said it and hopefully with the power she would have said it with. May you come away amazed that an illiterate former slave could speak with such power and eloquence that she led many to faith!

Background: Sojourner Truth lived three lives. First, she was a slave to a Dutch household. Then she was sold to an English-speaking household where she was whipped each and every time she did not understand the instructions. Here, she met her husband and had her children—many of whom were sold away from her. Finally, the laws changed in New York and she became a free woman. During this time, she experienced a vision which convinced her that Christ and the Bible were true. Having memorized much of the Bible by having children read it to her, she became an itinerant preacher for the next 40 years. She was a powerful speaker and was listened to seriously, even by audiences that ridiculed her as she began. Sojourner Truth was a tall (6 ft), dark woman with a strong and deep voice. Thanks to her popularity, many of her speeches were transcribed. The monolog below tries to adhere to her style as closely as possible. She met and was admired by many people including Presidents Lincoln and Grant. She was over 100 when she died.

Props: Book of Life (autograph book)

Setting: None

Costume: Frugal dress, turban

Sojourner Truth: (Uses arms expressively throughout) Chile, you say today is Christmas. Glory! What a day! And ole Sojourner, says you, will be one of the speakers about women at Christmas. Whar dat! Aren’t I a woman? Aren’t Christmas all about women?

(Arms outspread) How, says you? How be it true? For truth is all Sojourner try to speak or want to say. Christ war the Son of God and Son of Man. How be He all about women? (Points to own head) Lor, chile, tink! Christ warnt no woman, true, but he come from one sure enuff. Who war Mary? Tell ole Sojourner the truth—I can take nothin’ else. Mary war a woman, sure nuff. And who war Christ’s father? Not a man, no. Christ war the Son of God. God and a woman. Christ’s birth had nigh on nothin’ to do with men.

Now, chile, I can’t read. I ain’t never read the Bible, but I have heerd of it as much as I can, do my best to listen and pray. As I hear tell, the fust promise of the Christ came to our mother, Eve, not Adam. And ifn by one sin, a woman can turn the world upside down, God will in the marvelon way he works use one woman to turn it right agin.

Aren’t I a woman? Haven’t I raised children and raised crops? Haven’t my strong arm and my strong mind kept me goin’ for longer than the time God give most? Haven’t I helped most anyone who asked of me? Haven’t I traveled all about this country? Traveled further and longer than most any man? (Holds up book) Met most anybody who’s counted anybody? Haven’t I talked with most anyone who’d listen to what ole Sojourner had to say? Depended on our Jesus for my ev’ry need? And hasn’t the Lord taught this woman ‘bout himself? And I a woman!

Christmas, seem to me, is for the woman. Through the woman, Christ war born. Through the woman, Joseph got to raise the Son of God. He who otherways hadn’t no part in it. Through the woman, them poor shepherds got some hope and them rich kings got some truth.

Now don’t get me goin’. No portion of time never been more holy than another. Next Tuesday can be jess as holy as Christmas. But Christmas can be holy if we’un keep our memory fast on truth. It can bless this po’ woman if Sojourner always remember that Jesus may have been the God man, but he was born of a woman, of a promise come through a woman. And while he lived, he counted women among his followers same as men. Christmas is forn us women.

Bliged to yo for hearin' on me, and now ole Sojourner ha'n't got nothing more to say. Nothing more ‘cept Merry Christmas!

Note: picture is not Sojurner Truth, but a representation.

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