First Lady celebrates Sojourner Truth

First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday celebrated the legacy of Sojourner Truth as she helped unveil a bust of the former slave turned abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the Capitol Visitor’s Center’s Emancipation Hall.

“All the visitors in the U.S. Capitol will hear the story of brave women who endured the greatest of humanity’s indignities,” Obama said. “They’ll hear the story of Sojourner Truth who didn’t allow those indignities to destroy her spirit, who fought for her own freedom, and then used her powers…to help others who fought for the right to vote and for the rights of all women.”

“The power of this bust will not just be in the metal that delineates Sojourner Truth’s face, it will also be in the message that defines her legacy,” said Obama, who joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House and Senate leaders at Tuesday’s ceremony.

Obama, the first African-American First Lady, said she hoped Truth would be happy to see her in the position.

“I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the First Lady of the United States of America,” Obama said.

–Jordy Yager