April 21, 2004, Introduced by Senators SCHAUER, JACOBS, THOMAS, CHERRY, CLARK-COLEMAN, GOSCHKA, GEORGE, SCOTT, CLARKE, SWITALSKI, GARCIA, HARDIMAN, BROWN, PRUSI, BERNERO, BRATER, JOHNSON, LELAND, CROPSEY, PATTERSON, BASHAM, BARCIA, ALLEN, BIRKHOLZ, CASSIS and EMERSON and referred to the Committee on Local, Urban and State Affairs.
A bill to designate November 26 of each year as Sojourner
Truth Day in the state of Michigan.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the fundamental
2 contribution Sojourner Truth made to the cause of abolition of
3 slavery and the establishment of equal rights for women and to
4 several other significant social reform and human justice
5 movements in the nineteenth century. Truth toured the nation for
6 over 40 years as a forceful and passionate advocate for the
7 dispossesed, using her quick wit and fearless tongue to deliver
8 her message of equality and justice. She lived in Battle Creek,
9 Michigan, from 1857 until her death on November 26, 1883.
10 Empowered by her religious faith, the former slave worked
11 tirelessly for many years to transform national attitudes and
12 institutions. According to Nell Painter, Princeton professor and
1 Truth biographer, "No other woman who had gone through the ordeal
2 of slavery managed to survive with sufficient strength, poise,
3 and self-confidence to become a public presence over the long
4 term.". Designating Sojourner Truth Day in the state of Michigan
5 will not only acknowledge the importance of this national figure
6 in the antislavery and human justice movements, but will also
7 recognize her strong ties to the state during her 26 years of
8 residence here. In recognition of this great woman, the
9 legislature declares November 26 of each year to be known as
10 "Sojourner Truth Day".