On May 29, 1851, in an area of downtown Akron that looked a whole lot more like Kenmore Boulevard than the urban area we know today, Sojourner Truth delivered her iconic speech known as “Ain’t I A Woman?” which challenged the exclusion of women of color from the Women’s Rights Movement. On Friday, Feb. 17, Sojourner Truth Project Committee Chair Towanda Mullins and Education Committee Lead Margaret Maurer will share insight into how our city is honoring this important part of Akron’s history as part of Srina Tea House & Cafe’s Black History Month Celebration.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, a committee of local Summit County Women raised funds to commission local artist Woodrow Nash to create a statue of Truth. the statue will be located in what will be called Sojourner Truth Plaza, located at the United Way of Summit & Medina Counties office on South Main Street in downtown Akron. This monument will serve as an ongoing opportunity to educate the public on the progress made over the last 100 years and honor the fight for voting rights for all women — especially many women of color who were excluded from voting until the 1960s.

“Sojourner Truth being an abolitionist, suffragist, preacher, we all stand on her truths,” Mullins said. “We are very proud here in Ohio to have this rich history, and we’re simply just trying to honor the past.”

This is a free event will start at 3 p.m. with music, food, tea and drinks with The Sojourner Truth Project presentation starting at 4:30. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.