Sojourner Truth: American abolitionist, suffragist, preacher
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Who was Sojourner Truth and what is this episode about?
Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously. My name is Greg Jenner and I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster. And today we are strapping on our sturdiest walking boots and hiking across America to learn about renowned 19th century abolitionist, orator and civil rights activist Sojourner Truth. And to help us, we have two very special guests. in History Corner. She's an assistant professor in African-American history at Cornell University. Her research focuses on black and indigenous histories, including the history of racial formation and identity in America. And you might remember her from our previous episodes of this show about Harriet Tubman and Josephine Baker.
What were the early life and circumstances of Sojourner Truth?
It's Dr. Michelle Crestfield. Welcome back, Michelle.
Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be back. The gang is back together.
It is. We're sort of series one reunion in some ways. It's lovely. And in Comedy Corner, she needs no introduction. She's a comedian, actor, and writer. You'll have seen her all over the TV on Taskmaster, Frankie Boyle's New World Order, The Horn Section TV show, and Too Hot to Handle. And you'll know her from this very podcast from many, many episodes, including recent highlights, Pythagoras, What a Dude, and the history of Broadway musicals. It's your Dead to Me superstar, Desiree Burch. Welcome back, Desiree.
Thank you so much. But this is like a series one reunion. I feel like they should do a behind the music on us. You know, none of you young listeners know what that is. But you know what I mean? The inside documentary on podcasts, although I guess podcasts are already kind of an insider. Anyway, you know what I mean?
Desiree, you and Michelle have previously covered Harriet Tubman and Josephine Baker. Now, Harriet Tubman, obviously an abolitionist, a very famous woman in American history. Are you excited to be back for more abolitionist history? What are your emotions when you hear the word Sojourner Truth?
She's one of the big ones. Do you know what I mean? And it's also she's one of the big ones that you learn about so early on. And then when everyone's like, what do you know about Sojourner Truth? You're like... she's dope dude uh you know and then you have to separate all the you know because you're like okay you know harry tubman did more of the gun wielding sojourner tooth did a lot of like the speaking and stuff like there's stuff that she did that i vaguely remember but like i'm excited to find out the cool biopic you know biopic biopic i don't know how we say that word biopic for me but yeah absolutely yeah i think it's biopic but some people say biopic and it sounds like a It sounds bionic.
It sounds like an eye condition. I'm biopic. I can't see out of my left eye. Yeah, I don't know.
Yes, or I see out of both eyes, but not the way you think.
So what do you know? This is the So What Do You Know? This is where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. And I think American listeners are going to immediately have a Desiree response of, I know stuff! Hang on, do I know stuff? Do I know anything? Perhaps it's a childhood memory coming back. Outside of the States, I think probably less familiar name. She's perhaps most famous for the quote, Ain't I a Woman, which has been used by feminist activists for years, including by Bell Hooks for her debut book title. But there are no big movie biopics, biopics, whatever we're calling it. There are no big TV dramas. If you go on IMDb, you're not getting much back, which is quite surprising.
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