The electrifying speeches of Sojourner Truth - Daina Ramey Berry

Translator: Wieka Barathayomi Reviewer: Elda Indria Sari

In early 1828, Sojourner Truth approached the Grand Jury of Kingston, New York.

Pada awal 1828, Sojourner Truth menemui Hakim Agung di Kingston, New York.

She had no experience with the legal system,

Ia tidak punya pengalaman tentang sistem hukum,

no money, and no power in the eyes of the court.

tidak punya uang, dan kekuatan di depan hukum.

Ignoring the jury’s scorn,

Mengabaikan cemoohan hakim,

Truth said she was there to fight for custody of her five-year-old son Peter,

Truth datang untuk membebaskan putranya Peter yang berusia 5 tahun,

who’d been illegally sold to an enslaver in Alabama.

yang secara ilegal dijual kepada penjual budak di Alabama.

As the trial played out over the next several months,

Karena proses pengadilan berjalan hingga beberapa bulan,

Truth raised funds, strategized with lawyers,

Truth menggalang dana, menyusun strategi dengan pengacara,

and held her faith.

dan memegang teguh keyakinannya.

Finally in the spring of 1828, Peter was returned to her care—

Akhirnya pada musim semi 1828, Peter kembali ke pelukannya --

but Truth’s work was far from over.

namun tugas Truth belum selesai.

She would dedicate the rest of her life to pursuing justice

Ia akan mendedikasikan sisa hidupnya untuk meraih keadilan

and spiritual understanding.

dan pemahaman spiritual.

Truth was born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree

Truth dilahirkan sebagai budak bernama Isabella Baumfree

in the late 18th century in Ulster County, New York.

pada akhir abad 18 di Ulster County, New York.

Although New York state had announced the abolition of slavery in 1799,

Meskipun New York telah menghapus perbudakan pada 1799,

the emancipation act was gradual.

gerakan emansipasi masih perlahan.

Those who were currently enslaved

Bagi mereka yang masih menjadi budak

were forced to serve a period of indentured servitude until their mid-20s.

dipaksa bekerja selama periode perbudakan kontrak hingga usia 20-an.

Throughout this period, enslavers repeatedly sold Baumfree,

Selama periode ini, penjual budak menjual Baumfree berulang kali,

tearing her from her loved ones.

memisahkannya dengan orang tersayang.

Often, she was explicitly prevented from pursuing new relationships.

Sering kali, ia secara terang-terangan dilarang untuk menjalin hubungan baru.

Eventually, she married an enslaved man named Thomas,

Sampai akhirnya, Ia menikah dengan budak bernama Thomas.

with whom she had three children.

Mereka memiliki tiga anak.

She was desperate to keep her new family together—

Ia berusaha keras untuk menjaga keluarga barunya tetap bersama --

but the slow progress of abolition threatened this hope.

namun proses abolisi yang lambat mengancam harapannya.

Baumfree’s enslaver, John Dumont, had promised to free her by 1826.

Majikan Baumfree, John Dumont, berjanji akan membebaskannya pada 1826.

When he failed to keep his word, Baumfree fled for her safety.

Saat majikannya ingkar janji, Baumfree melarikan diri.

During the escape, she was only able to rescue her youngest daughter Sophia,

Dalam masa pelarian, ia hanya bisa menyelamatkan putri bungsunya Sophia,

while her other children remained in bondage.

sedangkan dua anaknya yang lain masih dalam perbudakan..

It would be two years before she regained custody of Peter.

Hampir dua tahun kemudian ia bisa membebaskan Peter.

After that, she would wait another two years

Setelah itu, ia harus menunggu dua tahun

before she saw any of her other children.

hingga bertemu anaknya yang lain.

During this time, Baumfree found solace in her faith

Pada masa itu, Baumfree menemukan kedamaian dalam keyakinannya

and became increasingly dedicated to religious reflection.

dan semakin religius.

After settling in Kingston, New York,

Setelah menetap di Kingston, New York,

she joined a Methodist community that shared her political views.

ia bergabung dengan komunitas Metodis yang sepaham dengan pandangan politiknya.

She continued her practice of speaking aloud to God in private,

Ia terus berdoa secara pribadi,

and one night, her evening prayers took on even more sacred significance.

dan satu malam, doa-doa malamnya mulai semakin khusyuk.

Baumfree claimed to hear the voice of God, telling her to leave Kingston,

Baumfree yakin mendengar suara Tuhan, menyuruhnya meninggalkan Kingston,

and share her holy message with others.

dan menyebar pesan suci kepada yang lain.

Though she never learned to read or write,

Walaupun ia tidak pernah belajar membaca atau menulis,

Baumfree became known as an electrifying orator,

Baumfree menjadi terkenal sebagai orator penuh semangat,

whose speeches drew on Biblical references,

yang khotbahnya berdasar pada Injil,

spiritual ideals, and her experience of slavery.

teladan spiritual, dan pengalamannya sebagai budak.

Her sermons denounced the oppression of African Americans and women in general,

Khotbahnya mencela penindasan terhadap orang Afrika Amerika dan perempuan,

and became prominent in campaigns for both abolition and women’s rights.

dan menonjol dalam kampanye abolisi dan hak perempuan.

In 1843, she renamed herself Sojourner Truth

Pada 1843, ia mengganti namanya menjadi Sojourner Truth

and embarked on a legendary speaking tour.

dan memulai perjalanan khotbahnya yang legendaris.

Truth saw her journey as a mission from God.

Truth memandang perjalanannya sebagai misi dari Tuhan.

Her faith often led her to the nation’s most hostile regions,

Keyakinannya sering membawanya ke daerah paling berbahaya,

where she spoke to bigoted audiences as the only Black woman in the crowd.

ia berbicara kepada penonton fanatik sebagai satu-satunya wanita kulit hitam.

Truth was confident God would protect her,

Truth yakin Tuhan akan menjaganya,

but some crowds responded to her bravery with violence.

namun beberapa orang membalas keberaniannya dengan kekerasan.

During one of her sermons,

Dalam salah satu khotbahnya,

a mob of white men threatened to set fire to the tent where she was speaking.

sekelompok warga kulit putih mengancam membakar tenda tempatnya berkhotbah.

In her memoir, Truth recalled steeling herself to confront them:

Dalam memoarnya, Truth ingat bersiap untuk menghadapi mereka:

“Have I not faith enough to go out and quell that mob…

"Tidakkah aku cukup beriman untuk keluar dan menenangkan mereka...

I felt as if I had three hearts!

aku merasa seakan memiliki tiga hati!

And that they were so large, my body could hardly hold them!”

Mereka begitu besar, tubuhku tidak bisa menahan mereka!"

She placated the men with song and prayer, until they had no desire to harm her.

Ia melerai mereka dengan lagu dan doa, hingga hilang hasrat untuk menyakitinya.

Truth’s speeches impacted thousands of people in communities across the nation,

Khotbah Truth menjangkau ribuan orang dari berbagai komunitas di penjuru negeri,

but her activism went far beyond public speaking.

namun kampanyenya tidak berhenti di situ.

During the Civil War, she became involved with the Union Army,

Selama Perang Sipil, ia begabung dengan Union Army,

recruiting soldiers and organizing supplies for Black troops.

merekrut tentara dan mengatur bantuan untuk pasukan kulit hitam.

Her work was so well regarded that she was invited to meet President Lincoln.

Kinerjanya luar biasa hingga diundang untuk bertemu Presiden Lincoln.

She took the occasion to argue that all formerly enslaved people

Ia memanfaatkannya untuk memperjuangkan para mantan budak

should be granted land by the government.

agar diberi lahan oleh pemerintah.

Truth continued to travel and speak well into her 80s.

Truth terus melakukan perjalanan dan berkotbah hingga usia 80-an.

Until her death in 1883, she remained an outspoken critic

Hingga akhir hayatnya pada 1883, ia tetap menjadi kritikus pedas

who fought for her right to be heard in a hostile world.

yang berjuang demi haknya agar terdengar di dunia yang keras ini.

As Truth once said, “I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies;

Truth pernah berseru "Aku merasa aman bahkan di antara musuh-musuhku;

for the truth is powerful and will prevail."

karena kebenaran adalah kekuatan dan akan menang."