Ulster County will commemorate Sojourner Truth Day on Tuesday, November 26, with two free events celebrating the life and legacy of the renowned abolitionist and women’s rights advocate who escaped enslavement in the county.
The day will begin with a historic marker reveal ceremony at 11:00 AM outside the Ulster County Courthouse in Kingston, where Truth won her son’s freedom. The event will feature remarks from Ulster County Chief Diversity Officer Esi Lewis, Dr. Weldon McWilliams of SUNY New Paltz Black Studies, and Sojourner Truth’s sixth-generation granddaughter, Barbara Allen.
In the evening, a gathering at the Ulster County Restorative Justice Center at 6:00 PM will feature a reenactment of Truth’s iconic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech performed by Rev. Deborah Zuill, a song selection by Rev. Evelyn Clarke, and a drum selection by Ubaka Hill, a nationally-known percussionist, singer/songwriter, inspirational speaker, visual artist, teaching artist and facilitator of sacred ceremony. The event will also display court artifacts related to Truth’s life and times. Light refreshments will be served.
Sojourner Truth, born in 1797 in what is now Ulster County, became the first woman to win a court case against a man and dedicated her life to advocating for abolition and women’s rights. Her powerful voice and unwavering commitment to justice continue to resonate today. Everyone is encouraged to attend these free and important events.
Ulster County Chief Diversity Officer Esi Lewis appeared on Radio Chatskill to discuss the events.
Image Credit: Randall Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons