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This Day In History

Activism

1851 A former slave turned abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth delivers her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Except she didn't use that phrase - in a 1863 version, white abolitionist Frances Dana Barker Gage changed Truth’s speech patterns, giving her the speech characteristics of Southern slaves. Truth was born and raised in New York, and spoke only Dutch until she was 9 years old – there is no indication that she would have spoken in this manner and it appears to be either faulty memory or deliberate changes on Gage’s part. Gage also added made-up statements Unfortunately, Gage’s version is the one that gained popularity, reprinted in 1875, 1881 and 1889 and it wasn’t until historian Nell Irvin Painter published her 1997 biography Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol that Gage’s version was discredited. However, the legacy remains, as it is still known as the "Ain’t I a Woman?" speech.

Arts

1943 “Rosie the Riveter” by Norman Rockwell appears on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

Sports

1977 Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to qualify for and complete the Indy 500 car race.

2005 American driver Danica Patrick was the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.