Aint I?

 

 

We do as much, we eat as much, we want as much.  
                                   Sojourner Truth
 
On this the centennial celebration of women voting in the USA, Sojourner gets to the heart of it all from her address in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention asking “Aint I a woman?” There is no record of the speech as she spoke it, only as journalists and later writers remembered it making it truly a living kind of word. Not one contained by historical accounts, but a truth carried in strength and spirit from 1851 for 1920 and today. Sadly, it is a word still needed as sisters continue to seek a fairer world, equal pay and freedom from harassment. Strong, vocal women speaking their mind who are continually referred to as bossy, bitchy or nasty- demeans us all.  In 1920 those women leaders were called Suffragettes!  Because of them we can call our sisters: Senator, Governor, Reverend and Rabbi.
 
The pandemic can add not fully celebrating this historic event as one more victory against us- just see what was done in anticipation of the Suffrage anniversary   https://www.2020centennial.org . Hopefully zoom classrooms across the nation found a way to mark the day. The best celebration, however,  is not a remembrance of what happened but working toward what can and will happen because women fought to overcome obstacles that patriarchy placed in the way. Registering to vote and helping others do the same, making every effort to support candidates both locally and nationally, and voting- all of these gifts were not always gifts. The right to vote was hard-won and can never be neglected.  
 
I get to pay taxes in this country, but as the proud holder of a green card, I am not yet able to vote. While never missing an election in Canada, this forced voting sabbath has ensured that once the privilege is bestowed I’ll never miss a vote, American Idol or otherwise.  
 
Thank you, sisters, for not giving up or giving in. Thank you for knowing your identity matters and the world cannot be healed without you. For those of us in Wilmington, check out this gallery of influential women in our town over the years.

https://www.starnewsonline.com/photogallery/NC/20200818/PHOTOGALLERY/818009999/PH/1?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=StarNews%20news-alerts%202020-08-1813:07:02&utm_content=INKA_WSN&utm_term=081820
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.   Luke 1:45