This version was not the first published account of the Akron speech, but rather the first attempt to convey what Sojourner Truth said in full. The oldest account of Truth's speech that provides more than a passing mention of it was published by Marius Robinson on Jin the Salem Anti‐Slavery Bugle, a few weeks after the speech was given. Library of Congress Link to Sojourner’s Speech > One could infer from this pre printing meeting, that even if he did not capture every word she said, that she must have blessed his transcription and given permission to print her speech in the Anti‐Slavery Bugle. It is interesting to note that Marius Robinson and Sojourner Truth were good friends and it was documented that they went over his transcription of her speech before he published it.
I have highlighted overt similarities between the two versions. While Frances Gage changed most of Sojourner’s words and falsely attributed a southern slave dialect to Sojourner’s 1863 version, it is clear the origin of Gage's speech comes from Sojourner's original 1851 speech. And Gage’s version is on the right, written 12 years later and published in 1863, The full text of each version follows the synopsis below so you can see the differences line by line. The original, on the left, was delivered by Sojourner and transcribed by Marius Robinson, a journalist, who was in the audience at the Woman's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio on May 29, 1851. (Introduction by Marc Kockinos)įor further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.įor more free audio books or to become a volunteer reader, visit are the two main written versions of Sojourner’s speech. Though Olive Gilbert's writing about Sojourner takes on a patronizing tone at times (a weakness of some Abolitionists), The Narrative of Sojourner Truth remains a moving and historic document, chronicling the struggles of African-Americans under slavery and the life of a truly remarkable woman. It was one of the catalysts for the rise of anti-slavery public opinion in the years leading up to the Civil War. The Narrative was first published in 1850, and was widely distributed by the Abolitionist Movement. Since Sojourner could neither read or write, she dictated her story to Olive Gilbert after they met at a Women’s Rights rally. The Narrative of Sojourner Truth is the gripping autobiographical account of Sojourner Truths life as a slave in pre-Civil War New York State, and her eventual escape to Freedom. LibriVox recording of The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, by Olive Gilbert.
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