March 23, 2005, Introduced by Senators SCHAUER, JACOBS, BARCIA, BASHAM, HARDIMAN, BERNERO, SCOTT, GEORGE, CHERRY, GOSCHKA, BIRKHOLZ, LELAND, EMERSON, THOMAS, VAN WOERKOM, CLARKE, CLARK-COLEMAN, CROPSEY, JOHNSON, PATTERSON, BROWN, CASSIS, ALLEN, PRUSI, SWITALSKI, BRATER, BISHOP, JELINEK, OLSHOVE, HAMMERSTROM, KUIPERS, GARCIA and McMANUS and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
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:
Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the fundamental
contribution Sojourner Truth made to the cause of abolition of
slavery and the establishment of equal rights for women and to
several other significant social reform and human justice movements
in the nineteenth century. Truth toured the nation for over 40
years as a forceful and passionate advocate for the dispossessed,
using her quick wit and fearless tongue to deliver her message of
equality and justice. She lived in Battle Creek, Michigan, from
1857 until her death on November 26, 1883. Empowered by her
religious faith, the former slave worked tirelessly for many years
to transform national attitudes and institutions. According to
Nell Painter, Princeton professor and Truth biographer, "No other
woman who had gone through the ordeal of slavery managed to survive
with sufficient strength, poise, and self-confidence to become a
public presence over the long term". Designating Sojourner Truth
Day in the state of Michigan will not only acknowledge the
importance of this national figure in the antislavery and human
justice movements, but will also recognize her strong ties to the
state during her 26 years of residence here. In recognition of
this great woman, the legislature declares November 26 of each year
to be known as "Sojourner Truth Day".