An albumen silver print from approximately 1870 by Randall Studios
Today’s scriptures speak of Wisdom as a woman and that “in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets.” I like that: “friends of God, and prophets.”
Our psalm continues this theme of wisdom and prophecy, assuring us “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.”
And in today’s Epistle we are called to “serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received,” reminding us both wisdom and prophecy are God’s gifts.
In our Gospel, Jesus says to the wise, the prophets: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
What is going on here? A whole lot of wisdom in the form of four women who lived as “friends of God, and prophets.” Today the Episcopal Church honors ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, AMELIA BLOOMER, HARRIET ROSS TUBMAN and SOJOURNER TRUTH. These four American women were pioneers in the struggle for black emancipation and for women’s votes. We recall them today because on June 20th in 1848, the landmark Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York concluded.
Sojourner Truth was an ex-slave; a fiery abolitionist; and an eloquent advocate of women’s equality. She was also a riveting speaker. Even today she stands as a national symbol for strong black women, no: for all strong women. I had only a passing acquaintance with Sojourner Truth until I began to study for this homily. I thought of her as an abolitionist. But her most enduring speech marks Sojourner Truth as an outstanding leader in the fight for women’s equality. Here’s how that speech happened, more or less.
Several male ministers attending the Seneca Falls Conference were speaking at length of their belief that man was superior to women. One claimed “superior intellect” while another went on about the “manhood of Christ.” Then one of the men made the mistake of describing the “sin of our first mother.” Suddenly, Sojourner Truth rose from her seat in the corner of the church. Other women whispered that Sojourner Truth should not be allowed to speak lest their convention be cast as an Abolitionist meeting. But they were ignored.
Slowly Sojourner Truth walked to the podium and took off her bonnet. Standing six feet tall, she literally towered over the assembly. As best as I can tell, this is what she said:
“Well, children, where there is so much racket, there must be something out of kilter, I think between the Negroes of the South and the women of the North – all talking about rights – the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this talking about?”
Sojourner pointed to one of the ministers.
“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody helps me any best place. And ain’t I a woman?”
Sojourner raised herself to her full height.
“Look at me! Look at my arm.” She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. “I have plowed, I have planted and I have gathered into barns. And no man could head me. And ain’t I a woman?”
“I could work as much, and eat as much as man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman?
“I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain’t I a woman?”
By now women were cheering.
Sojourner pointed to another minister.
“He talks about this thing in the head. What’s that they call it?”
“Intellect,” whispered a woman nearby.
“That’s it, honey. What’s intellect got to do with women’s rights or black folks’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?”
Sojourner pointed to the man who spoke of the supposed “sin of our first mother.”
“That little man in black there! He says women can’t have as much rights as men. ‘Cause Christ wasn’t a woman.”
She stood with outstretched arms and eyes of fire.
“Where did your Christ come from?”
“Where did your Christ come from?” she thundered again. “From God and a Woman! Man had nothing to do with him!”
Now the entire church reverberated by the deafening applause.
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, then these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right-side up again. And now that they are asking to do it the men better let them.”
I was born more than a century after Sojourner Truth first gave this sermon, one now known for the undeniable assertion wrapped up in her question: And ain’t I a woman? In the ‘60s and ‘70’s, there were many times when Sojourner Truth’s question was as relevant as it was back in 1848. Here’s what’s amazing: her undeniable assertion argues eloquently for the equality of all of Gods children. In it she reminds us there are no second class citizens in the Kingdom of God, that God does not make mistakes. So let us be renewed here today to live as “friends of God, and prophets.” Remember Jesus promises:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Let each of us have the wisdom to search, ask and knock so the God’s kingdom is opened to all who have eyes to see, ears to hear and heats to love.
Let us pray:
O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servants Elizabeth, Amelia, Harriet, and Sojourner. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Let God’s people say: Amen!
