Sojourner Truth
Ain't I A Woman?
Ain't I A Woman?
This project asked that we take a human rights speech and do something "interesting" with the type layout. I chose a powerful speech by Sojourner Truth titled, "Ain't I A Woman?" from 1851. In this speech she fights not only for women's suffrage, but but for "negro" rights as well. I decided to format this as a news story printed from that era. I created a newspaper the same size and shape as one from the mid 1850s, then I weathered and baked the paper using different methods. I layed-out the type, designed the newspaper header, and placed the imagery where I thought it worked best. The line from her speech that haunts me the most is, "I have born 13 children and seen most all sold off to slavery" This line echoed in my head, and I had a hard time picturing 13 individuals in that condition. I decided the center of the piece would be that phrase. I illustrated 13 individuals with the haunting phrase repeated over and over to create the body. Then I shackled the neck, hands, and feet of the form with the phrase. I then repeated it 13 times, and I think the effect is very powerful. I'm most interested in hearing remarks on this piece.
