Sojourner Truth Analysis

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Essay Number 1 Three historical figures, all completely different but yet are all connected by the crude, barbaric way of life in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Sojourner Truth, Helen Keller, and Annie Sullivan all changed the course of history forever. In a time were so many injustices to class were being made these three woman proved by fighting against stereotype how inhumane and unpractical this way of life was to the human race. Helen Keller, a girl who was deaf and blind, found a way to communicate. Anne Sullivan, teacher, was Helens mentor eventually taught Helen how to have relationship with the outside world. Sojourner Truth, a standard slave during the 1800s ended her life with more success than many white persons at…show more content…
Was this Ironic? Due to Annie’s resentment towards the Perkins Institute for the Blind one would think so. Wolff states that Annie, “was seen as a radical: Pro- Irish, anti Protestant establishment, more interested in independence than receiving charity.”(pg. 188 Wolff) Why is it that Annie insisted on teaching Helen the idea of obedience? I believe that it’s because after all of Annie’s own experiences she knew that there was no alternative way to make a life for a “less that average” person. It could also be that Annie subconsciously taught her obedience because that was the only way Annie had ever really learned before Helen. It may have been Sojourner Truths idea of a “Product of a System.” (pg 79 Wolff). Annie Sullivan did have some sort of right to teach Helen this way of life because she knew that obedience was the only way Helen or herself could reach success with all odds working against them. Not only were the odds against Helen having health illnesses but against both of them because they were…show more content…
Why? Because the educated citizens knew that if the slaves received an education they would leave with an understanding that there were better things out there for them. The people who did have an education had to have known how disgusting the slavery act was or else they would not feel any threat whatsoever towards public education. The rich felt threatened but this and did everything in their power to stop the possible public school opening. Ultimately in the late eighteenth century, “the society had begun setting up African Free Schools in New York City. Their goal: to “rescue the minds of the descendants of Africa… and to make the quiet and orderly citizens”. (pg 79 Wolff) The schools would on serve less the 500 students a year, but a different education arose at the same time the public school opened, “Over a million people in America were being educated to be slaves.” (pg 79 Wolff). The only person that public education would not benefit would be slave owners. They would no longer have slaves to tend to their every need, or to take care of their daily duties. If the slaves did decide to stay due to comfort, the slave’s compensation would rise and their owners would have to give them not only independence but also treat them like human

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