In the fight for civil rights and gender equality in 19th-century America, two powerful figures stood out Frances Dana Barker Gage and Sojourner Truth. Though different in background and experience, their collaboration at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, marked a pivotal moment in history. Frances Gage, a white abolitionist and women’s rights activist, played a crucial role in amplifying the voice of Sojourner Truth, a formerly enslaved African-American woman who had become an outspoken advocate for abolition and women’s rights. Their intertwined legacies reveal much about the power of allyship and the challenges faced by early reformers.
Frances Gage: A Reformer and Ally
Early Life and Beliefs
Frances Dana Barker Gage was born in 1808 in Marietta, Ohio, into a family committed to progressive causes. She was deeply influenced by her parents’ values, particularly their opposition to slavery and advocacy for women’s education. Gage married James L. Gage, a like-minded reformer, and together they raised eight children while supporting abolition, temperance, and suffrage.
Role in the Women’s Rights Movement
Frances Gage quickly became known for her passionate speeches and organizing abilities. She traveled extensively across the United States to speak out against slavery and advocate for women’s equality. Her leadership was most evident during her role as presiding officer at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio an event that would change the course of the suffrage movement and where she introduced the legendary Sojourner Truth.
Sojourner Truth: Voice of Freedom
Background and Emancipation
Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Ulster County, New York. She was enslaved for nearly three decades before gaining her freedom in 1826. After a religious conversion, she changed her name and committed herself to the causes of abolition and women’s rights. Truth traveled across the country delivering powerful oratory rooted in her personal experience, faith, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Partnership with Frances Gage
The 1851 Akron Convention was a critical turning point in Truth’s public activism. Although she was not initially scheduled to speak, Truth seized the moment and delivered her famous address, later titled Ain’t I a Woman? Frances Gage, who chaired the session, encouraged and supported her voice despite considerable resistance from parts of the audience. Gage’s support helped ensure that Truth’s words reached far beyond that gathering.
The Akron Convention: A Historic Event
Backdrop of the Speech
The convention was held in a church in Akron, Ohio, and gathered both male and female reformers to discuss women’s suffrage and legal rights. Many in attendance were white middle-class women and clergy, and the presence of a tall, strong Black woman like Sojourner Truth challenged prevailing social and racial hierarchies.
Truth’s Speech and Gage’s Transcription
Truth’s speech was delivered without a prepared script and drew on her experience as a formerly enslaved woman. She questioned the exclusion of Black women from the mainstream suffrage movement and emphasized her identity both as a woman and as a human being deserving of dignity. Frances Gage would later transcribe and publish the speech, although the authenticity of her version has been debated by historians due to possible embellishments and the use of dialect not typical of Truth’s own speech.
Key Themes in the Speech
- The hypocrisy of denying women rights while claiming moral superiority.
- The strength and resilience of Black women in the face of oppression.
- The shared humanity of all women, regardless of race or background.
- The need to reconcile racial justice with gender equality.
Controversy Around the Speech
Questions of Authenticity
One of the most enduring controversies involves Frances Gage’s version of the speech, which was published twelve years later. Critics argue that her rendering included exaggerated Southern dialect and changed some of Truth’s phrasing. Sojourner Truth, who spoke fluent Dutch and had no Southern background, likely delivered her address in more standard English. Nevertheless, Gage’s version helped popularize the speech, spreading its message to a larger audience.
Legacy and Impact
Despite the questions surrounding the transcription, the speech stands as one of the most significant addresses in American history. It brought together the struggles for abolition and women’s suffrage, and Frances Gage’s support was instrumental in giving Truth a national platform.
Later Contributions of Frances Gage
Writing and Advocacy
Following the convention, Gage continued to write, publish, and lecture on a range of reform issues. She penned novels, essays, and poetry that addressed themes such as slavery, women’s roles, and moral reform. Her writing was often emotional, driven by her belief in justice and equality.
Work During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Gage served as superintendent of a refugee camp for freed slaves in South Carolina and worked for the U.S. Sanitary Commission. She supported the Union cause and used her platform to promote emancipation and civil rights for freedmen. Her efforts, while often overshadowed by better-known figures, were crucial in supporting newly freed Black Americans during the Reconstruction era.
Sojourner Truth’s Continued Advocacy
Expanding Her Mission
Truth continued her activism long after the Akron Convention. She met with Abraham Lincoln in 1864, advocating for land grants to freed slaves and the establishment of equal rights for all. She campaigned for prison reform, education, and desegregation of public transportation. Her unyielding dedication made her a symbol of perseverance and moral courage.
Lasting Recognition
In later years, Truth’s life story was widely published, and she became a cultural icon. Statues, memorials, and educational institutions have been named in her honor. Her image and story are often invoked in discussions about intersectional feminism and racial justice.
Shared Legacy and Modern Relevance
Intersection of Race and Gender
The partnership between Frances Gage and Sojourner Truth highlights the complex dynamics between race, gender, and activism. While Gage played an important role in supporting and publicizing Truth’s message, the episode also reflects the limitations and assumptions of white allies during the era. Their story continues to prompt reflection on how marginalized voices are represented and remembered.
Inspiration for Future Generations
Today, both women are celebrated for their fearless advocacy and moral leadership. They remind us that social change requires collaboration across different identities and that true progress must include the voices of those most affected by injustice. The enduring power of Truth’s words, and Gage’s role in bringing them to light, serve as reminders of the potential for unity in the face of inequality.
Frances Gage and Sojourner Truth may have come from very different walks of life, but their meeting at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention was a defining moment in American history. Their legacy is one of courage, cooperation, and determination to challenge the status quo. As we look back on the struggles for justice in the 19th century, the story of these two reformers continues to resonate, urging future generations to speak truth to power and to stand together in the pursuit of equality for all.