Sojourner Truth Memorial on National Women’s Vote Trail
The Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee (STMC), Suffrage100MA and the city of Northampton, Massachusetts hosted the Annual Sojourner Truth Memorial Celebration on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 2pm at the Sojourner Truth Memorial Park in the village of Florence, Northampton. Honoring the legacy of extraordinary abolitionist, suffragist, and activist Sojourner Truth, the event featured the annual scholarship presentation by the STMC and an unveiling of a historic women’s suffrage marker as one of five new Massachusetts marker sites on the National Votes for Women Trail, and live music by the Amherst Area Gospel Choir.
Scroll down for event photos and press highlights!
Special thanks to all the speakers and performers who participated in our event!
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was an internationally known advocate for justice and equality between the races and sexes during the 19th century. She is honored in American history for her compelling autobiography, for her innumerable speeches against slavery and for women’s rights and for her work on behalf of freedmen after the Civil War. Truth lived in Florence (a village of Northampton) from 1844-1857, during which time she helped establish Florence as a center of antislavery resistance.
The Sojourner Truth Social Justice Scholarship Award aims to honor young people who carry her heritage forward in their own way. $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to select Hampshire or Hampden County public high school seniors who have been active in social justice efforts and plan to attend college or postsecondary school. 2023 Scholars: Kaz Andrews, Northampton High School; Dahlia Breslow, Northampton High School; Victor F. Cruz-Castro, Amherst Regional High School; La’Tasia Love, Springfield Central High School; Aria M. Norman-Gesuelle, Northampton High School; Ursa Sekou Shabazz, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School; Catherine Thompson, Springfield Central High School.
The Sojourner Truth women’s suffrage marker is funded through a grant by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation®, sponsored by the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites (NCWHS)’s National Votes for Women Trail (NVWT, and coordinated in Massachusetts by Suffrage100MA.
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS:
- Daily Hampshire Gazette (June 8, 2023): Sojourner Truth Historic Marker Unveiled in Florence
- Daily Hampshire Gazette (May 26, 2023): Arts Briefs: Sojourner Truth celebration in Florence
- WWLP.com (February 1, 2022): Sojourner Truth to be honored with historical marker in Florence
Photo Credit: Christopher Winslow
