Julia Ward Howe's Life and Legacy

Julia Ward Howe was born into a wealthy New York City family, and her father was a banker. Her mother unfortunately passed away when Julia was young.

Despite her father's wealth and social standing, Julia felt restricted. She often described her life as being confined within an 'enchanted castle,' implying a sense of being trapped.

Julia's father believed in traditional gender roles. He scolded Julia for not sitting properly like a lady, showing his expectations for her behavior. He even threatened to have her measured for pants if she didn't conform.

Julia's father discouraged her intellectual pursuits. When she published an anonymous essay, he criticized her for focusing on writing rather than domestic duties, highlighting how he valued traditional feminine roles over intellectual pursuits.

Despite her father's limitations, Julia was intelligent and creative. She wrote anonymously, demonstrating her desire to express her thoughts despite societal expectations.

Sojourner Truth, who was born Isabelle, rejected her enslaved name because it was a symbol of her past and didn't reflect her new life as a reformer. She chose 'Sojourner' to emphasize her travels as a speaker for reform and 'Truth' to declare her commitment to speaking the truth.

The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and secret routes used by enslaved people to escape to freedom in the north. Sojourner Truth was assisted by the Underground Railroad when she escaped slavery.

Sojourner Truth's speeches against slavery were often given to mixed audiences, including women and men. This was unusual because women, especially black women, were often not allowed to speak publicly at the time.

Sojourner Truth's powerful presence and confident voice made her a compelling speaker. She was over six feet tall and had a piercing stare, commanding attention from her audience.

Sojourner Truth believed that women's rights were being violated, just as she had experienced as an enslaved person. She used her platform to advocate for the rights of all people, both women and African Americans.