Wed 5/29 @ 5:30PM
On May 29, 1851, abolitionist/women’s right activist Sojourner Truth, who escaped from slavery in 1826, gave her famous speech with the refrain “Ain’t I a woman?” at the Ohio Women’s Conference in downtown Akron. It wasn’t well received by local men and even some women attending the all-white conference.
Now the city of Akron is honoring Sojourner Truth and her landmark speech with the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza, which will be dedicated on Wednesday May 29. It’s located at United Way of Summit & Medina counties’ offices (37 N. High Street) next to the location of the now-demolished Old Stone Church where she gave the speech. The plaza will center around a sculpture of Truth created by Akron native Woodrow Nash.
The dedication will begin at 5:30 with welcoming remarks, followed by a ribbon cutting and the unveiling of the statue, plus performances of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” “I Am Pleading for my People,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
After that, North High Street, which will be closed for the event will be filled with food trucks, vendors, music, family-friendly activities and voter registration tables. There will also be screenings of films about Truth at Nightlight Cinema.
Get more information here.