This week in history
November 24, 1787: Birth of Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in New York. Born into a slave family, she was sold to a variety of "owners" during her childhood. She was freed in 1828 under the New York state Anti-Slavery Act.
Truth was over six feet (182 centimetres) tall and an excellent orator. She could not read or write but became a high profile preacher and strong advocate of women's rights and of the abolition of slavery.
Truth's most well-known words were spoken in 1851 at a women's rights convention in Ohio: "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody helps me any best place. And ain't I a woman? I could work as much, and eat as much as man — when I could get it — and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain't I a woman?"
November 19, 1915: Joe Hill executed
Born in Sweden on October 7, 1879, Joe Hill migrated to the United States and became an itinerant labourer in the mines and lumber industry. Joining the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) around 1910, Hill wrote songs based on working life which became anthems for strikes and rallies of the day.
In 1914 Hill was accused of the murder of a Salt Lake City store owner. He was sentenced to death, prompting an international solidarity campaign to stop the execution. Hill's supporters claimed that copper business interests had framed Hill to stop the Wobblies' political activity in the area.
Growing pressure led President Woodrow Wilson to intervene twice to delay the execution, but Hill was eventually executed in Utah State Prison. His life and death inspired generations of labour activists. His heroic and pro-worker message was summarised in his final words: "Don't mourn for me — organise!".