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Date: 3/8/2022
NORTHAMPTON – Sojourner Truth, the renowned 19th century suffragist and abolitionist, will be honored in the spring with the unveiling of a historic women’s suffrage marker.
The marker, which will be located at Sojourner Truth Memorial Park at the intersection of Park and Pine streets, was funded through a grant by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and sponsored by the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites/National Votes for Women Trail. The project is a collaboration between the Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee in Northampton, Suffrage100MA and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The signage was approved by the City Council back in late January, according to Michelle Juralewicz, program coordinator of Suffrage100MA-which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan organization committed to recognizing the importance of the 19th Amendment, voting rights and access to voting today.
“Sojourner Truth is internationally revered as one of the most courageous women in our nation’s existence, and remains a pivotal part of Northampton’s history,” says Carol Rinehart, co-chair of the Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee in Northampton. “Truth’s impassioned voice called not only for the abolition of slavery, but for total equality, voting rights for all citizens, and women’s rights. This marker, honoring her time here in our city, will invite visitors to honor her remarkable contributions to women’s suffrage.”
“Thanks to the unanimous support of the Historic Commission and City Council, and the hard work of the Department of Public Works, Northampton looks forward to installing this important historic marker for Sojourner Truth later this year,” said Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, in a statement.
According to Fredie Kay, the president and founder of Suffrage100MA and Massachusetts state coordinator, obtaining a marker was part of a two-year effort and was approved by the Northampton Historical Commission in 2021. The marker was originally nominated by the Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee.
With the addition of this marker, which will be in close proximity to the home once owned by Truth in the 19th century, the city now joins the National Votes for Women Trail, according to Juralewicz.
“Sojourner Truth’s marker is important is because it helps underscore the remarkable contributions that many suffragists of color brought to the struggle from the very earliest days of the movement,” said Rinehart. “The long process of achieving women’s suffrage painfully reveals the prejudices and obstacles Black women have faced. It is also important that Northampton joins the National Votes for Women Trail because It highlights the historic role the community of Florence played as a hub of activism for many causes of justice, from abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage.”
Truth was a nationally known advocate for justice and equality between the races and sexes during the 19th century. She is honored in American history for her innumerable speeches against slavery and for women’s rights, and for her work on behalf of the freedom after the Civil War.
“Protecting voting rights in a democracy is an ongoing issue,” added Rinehart. “We hope this marker will help keep alive the history of Sojourner Truth’s significant work in Northampton and beyond for the abolition of slavery and suffrage, and that it will honor the particular struggles women of color faced within the voting rights movement.”
No specific date was identified for when the marker will be unveiled.