1. Initial ideas/ Stimulus

  

(Modern History Sourcebook, 2019)

When I started exploring ideas for my choreography module, I knew I wanted to focus on a topic that I am passionate about, to inspire me during the research and create movement which is meaningful and emotive.

 

“Ain’t I A Woman” by Sojourner Truth is a speech which took place at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. It is extremely powerful and thought-provoking and articulates the frustration faced by women in the 19^th Century. Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Bomfree) was born into slavery in America. After emancipation, she was a household worker and preacher. Described as a “strange compound of wit and wisdom, of wild enthusiasm and flint-like common sense” (Painter, 1994), she still managed to deliver powerful, charismatic speeches, despite being illiterate. The speech is surrounded by some controversy as the original transcript was rewritten in 1863. The original had been approved by Truth, whereas the rewritten version had been changed and no longer represented what Truth had said (Podell, 2014). The Speech highlights the racial and gender inequalities shown towards women for example “you need not be afraid to give us rights for fear we will take too much” (Podell, 2014).

 

(Fig. 1, Truth, 1851)

I was particularly drawn to this as the convention took place at a time where women were particularly oppressed, they were unable to vote, they were expected to stay home to cook, clean and look after children. There wasn’t any freedom for women. I aim for my choreography to show the audience how women were treated in the 1800s and the hardships they faced. I would like to portray the journey from being housewives who weren’t allowed to have an opinion, vote, or speak out to women’s suffrage successfully changed the lives of women, using the Sojourner Truth’s speech as a starting point. 

I believe this topic is important to share as we have gained freedom in the 21^st century which may be taken for granted. I think it is useful to reflect and educate ourselves on the actions taken in the past which have allowed us to vote, work and have more equal opportunities with men. While there are still many social issues today such as the gender pay gap, misogyny, and hate crimes, a massive change was made, starting with women’s suffrage.

 

I intend to carry out in-depth research into Sojourner Truth’s background and what events were happening around the time of the speech to gain further context. This will enable me to identify themes for my choreography which I can create well developed and thought-out movements to. I will use primary and secondary resources such as academic journals, news articles, books, and transcripts.

 

Kirstin Kelly-Abbot, artistic director of Abbot Dance Theatre created a piece entitled ‘Deeds Not Words’ which marked 100 years since the Representation of the People’s Act in 1918 which allowed women to vote in the UK. It showed the struggles women faced, the reality of the movement and how propaganda affected the cause (Dance City, 2018). This really inspired me to show the struggle and difficulty that women faced to be taken seriously, demonstrating the women’s suffrage movement in the USA rather than the UK.

Reference list

Dance City (2018). Deeds Not Words - Abbott Dance Theatre. [online] Dance City. Available at: https://www.dancecity.co.uk/performance/93099/deeds-not-words-abbott-dance-theatre/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2021].

Painter, N.I. (1994). Representing Truth: Sojourner Truth’s Knowing and Becoming Known. The Journal of American History, 81(2), pp.466, 467.

Podell, L. (2014). Compare the Speeches — The Sojourner Truth Project. [online] The Sojourner Truth Project. Available at: https://www.thesojournertruthproject.com/compare-the-speeches/ [Accessed 14 Oct. 2021].

Truth, S. (1851). Speech Entitled “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth Delivered at the 1851 Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. [online] Available at: https://thehermitage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Sojourner-Truth_Aint-I-a-Woman_1851.pdf [Accessed 19 Oct. 2021].

Bibliography

Halsall, P. (2019). Internet Modern History Sourcebook. [online] Fordham University. Available at: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/sojtruth-woman.asp [Accessed 14 Oct. 2021].

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