Historical theater will present ‘Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?'

Newton — The American Historical Theater will present “Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman?” at Project Self-Sufficiency on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place at the agency’s community education center, which is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton. The play is free and open to the public. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in the Dutch colony of Swartekill, N.Y. She was sold from her family at the age of nine. As a young woman, she had a life-changing religious experience and became inspired to preach. She changed her name to Sojourner Truth, and became an itinerant preacher, traveling the country in relative obscurity. The story of her life, “The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave,” was published in 1850, giving her an income and increasing the number of her speaking engagements, at which she also sold copies of the book. In 1854 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth gave her most famous speech, using the phrase “Ain’t I a Woman?” Daisy Nelson Century will play the part of Sojourner Truth. Century is a resident of Philadelphia and a former middle school science teacher. Her film credits include “Beloved” and “The Sixth Sense.” Century appears courtesy of the American Historical Theatre, which was founded in 1982 and is devoted to the dissemination of history in an entertaining and educational manner. The group is located in Philadelphia, but its historical interpreters travel the world, bringing American history alive at schools, museums, special events, art centers, and celebrations. “Project Self-Sufficiency is proud to be able to offer this fine presentation about the life of Sojourner Truth in recognition of Black History Month,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, executive director of Project Self-Sufficiency. For more information, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.