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Family Plays

Sojourner TruTh IS My

naMe

Docudramaby

PaT STernberg and Dolly beechMan

Based on the life of Sojourner Truth

© Family Plays

311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098-3308Phone: (800) 448-7469 / (815) 338-7170

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www.FamilyPlays.com

ISBN-13 978-0-87602-283-2

Sojourner Truth Is My Name

Based on the historical life and character of the remarkable 19th-century black woman, Sojourner Truth. Born a slave in 1797 in New York State, she was committed to the cause of freedom for black and white men and women all her life.

Docudrama. By Pat Sternberg and Dolly Beechman. Based on the life of Sojourner Truth. Cast: 3m., 3w. At the age of 9, Sojourner is placed on the auction block and sold away from her parents to a cruel master. Her cunning survival skills and unshakable faith in God are her only resources. She is also endowed with a glorious singing voice, which expresses her yearning for a better life. She gains her freedom at age 31, and, thereaf-ter, becomes a dedicated leader in the struggle for human rights, notably during the Civil War, appearing as a fervent orator alongside such figures as Frederick Douglass, Amy Post, William Lloyd Garrison, and Wendell Phillips. For the rest of her life, undaunted, she worked for the rights of all men and women, black and white, seeking freedom for slaves and social justice for all. Single set. Unadorned dress of the period. Code: SV4.

Sojourner TruTh IS My naMe

(Front Cover: Sojourner Truth. Unknown photographer, 1864. Public domain.)

© Family Plays

SOJOURNER

TRUTH IS MY NAME

Based on the life of Sojou rner Truth

by

Pat Sternberg and Dolly Beechman

No part of this playbook may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, including

photocopying, electronic, mechanical recording, or otherwise,

without the prior written permission of Anchorage Press, the

publisher.

Copyright 1989

Anchorage Press, Inc.

Orginally copyright in 1979

by the authors: DU-103-361

ISBN -0-87602-28 3-2

Family Plays311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098

© Family Plays

*** NOTICE ***The amateur and stock acting rights to this work are controlled exclusively by FAMILY PLAYS without whose permission in writing no performance of it may be given. Royalty must be paid every time a play is performed whether or not it is presented for profit and whether or not admission is charged. A play is performed any time it is acted before an audience. Current royalty rates, applications and re-strictions may be found at our website www.FamilyPlays.com, or we may be con-tacted by mail at: FAMILY PLAYS, 311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

COPYRIGHT LAW GIVES THE AUTHOR OR THE AUTHOR’S AGENT THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO MAKE COPIES. This law provides authors with a fair return for their creative efforts. Authors earn their living from the royalties they receive from book sales and from the performance of their work. Conscientious observance of copyright law is not only ethical, it encourages authors to continue their creative work. This work is fully protected by copyright. No alterations, de-letions or substitutions may be made in the work without the prior written consent of the publisher. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, videotape, film, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permis-sion in writing from the publisher. It may not be performed either by professionals or amateurs without payment of royalty. All rights, including, but not limited to, the professional, motion picture, radio, television, videotape, foreign language, tabloid, recitation, lecturing, publication and reading, are reserved.

© 1979 by PAT STERNBERG & DOLLY BEECHMAN

© 1989 by ANCHORAGE PRESS, INC.

Printed in the United States of AmericaAll Rights Reserved

(SOJOURNER TRUTH IS MY NAME)

ISBN: 978-0-87602-283-2

For performance of any songs, music and recordings mentioned in this play which are in copyright, the permission of the copyright owners must be obtained or other songs and recordings in the public domain substituted.

© Family Plays

IMPORTANT BILLING AND CREDIT REQUIREMENTSAll producers of the play must give credit to the author(s) of the play in all pro-grams distributed in connection with performances of the play and in all instances in which the title of the play appears for purposes of advertising, publicizing or otherwise exploiting the play and/or a production. The name of the author(s) must also appear on a separate line, on which no other name appears, immediately following the title, and must appear in size of type not less than fifty percent the size of the title type. Biographical information on the author(s), if included in the playbook, may be used in all programs. In all programs this notice must appear:

“Produced by special arrangement with Family Plays of Woodstock, Illinois”

© Family Plays

SOJOURNER

The play is a docudrama based on the life of a remarkable

black woman, Sojourner Truth. Born a slave in 1797 in the State of

New York, she rose to national prominence as one of the most charismatic, dedicated workers for human rights in the 19th

century.

At the age of nine, she was placed on the auction block and sold

away from her parents. In spite of the circumstances of her

enslavement, she had a religious mystic fetvor inside herself, something akin to Joan of Arc. Through the hard times, her

magnificent singing voice helped her to express her deep yearning

for a better life. At the age of 31, when she finally won her freedom, she answered the call to go to New York City to help the poor and downtrodden. Thereafter, she became one of the strongest

voices in the abolitionist and women's rights movements. Her courageous mission took her west during the Civil War into

dangerous "Copperhead" territory. There, she quelled riotous

audiences with her frevent oratory and the emotional impact of her

soulful singing.

From that time on, she devoted herself to the plight of the newly freed slaves and their families. It was her dream to have land in the West for her people, so they could build homes and farms and live independently. In a private conference, she expressed this plan to President Lincoln, who was already aware of her many accomplishments. President Lincoln saw the merit of her proposal

and agreed to further her cause. His assassination, however, ended

the realization of this dream. Sojourner, undaunted, close to seventy years old, continued to work for the rights of all men and

women, both black and white. In 1870, the proud and distinguished

old lady who had once been a slave was received in the marble hall

© Family Plays

of the United States Senate.

It is certainly a tribute to the American system that a slave such as

Sojourner could rise to such heights. B ut it is even more of a tribute

to the woman herself, who never lost sight of her purpose in life : to

gain freedom for the slave and social justice for all .

© Family Plays

Production Requirements

The set is extremely simple. It consists of four basic elements: a

table, two chairs, four stools that can be moved as needed, four

clothes trees upon which costume pieces are placed, and a stand for

the white banner.

The men wear basic black trousers and wide-sleeved white shirts.

The women wear long unadorned dresses of the period. All

additions to these costumes, such as scarves, hats, shawls, aprons

and jackets are preset on the clothes trees.

Sojourner's white banner which reads: "Liberty for All."

Gavel - Auctioneer and Mrs. Gage.

Walking cane, eyeglasses - Sojourner

Letter to Brother George Benson of the Northampton Association Small book: "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth"

Two clubs for 1850 hecklers

(All other props are indicated through pantomime)

© Family Plays

Cast of Cha r a cters

The title role, Sojourner, is played by one actress. All the other

roles are played by two women and three men. In the latter

instance, one of the men is black.

The cast breakdown is as fol lows:

Actor #1:

Actor #2:

Actor #3:

Actor #4:

Actor #5:

Actor #6:

Sojourner, a black woman with a rich, ful l singing

voice.

a white man (Mr. Neely, Mr. Shriver, Mr. Van

Wagoner, New York City Drunk, Parker Pill sbury,

Heckler-1850, Reverend #1-1852, Thug in Copperhead

Territory, S treet-car Conductor, Narrator).

A white woman (Tavern Lady, Mrs. Van Wagoner, New

York City Streetwalker, Olive Gilbert, Amy Post, Sojourner Supporter -1 850, Lady at Women's Rights

Meeting, Narrator).

a white woman (Mrs. Shriver, Gospel Lady, Miss Geer,

Lady at the Well, Sojourner Supporter-1850, Mrs.

Gage, Lucy Coleman, Narrator).

a black man (Baumfree, Tom, Cato, B lind "Doc"

Ruggles, Civil War Soldier, Freedman, Frederick A.

Douglas, Narrator).

a white man (Auctioneer, Dumont, Brother George

B enson, Garrison, Heckler-1850, Reverend #2-1852,

Thug in Copperhead Territory, Lincoln, Narrator).

© Family Plays

SOJOURNER: (Sojourner enters from the back of the auditorium. A

white banner stands onstage. It reads: "Liberty for all."

Upstage, four stools; slightly below, a Table and Chair.

Sojourner comes down the aisle singing. She shakes

hands with members of the audience as she goes.)

(Singing old Spiritual)

God's gonna set dis world on fire.

God's gonna set dis world on fire,

Some o' dese days, God know it.

God's gonna set dis world on fire.

Some o' dese days.

(On second chorus, other actors enter onstage and take their

places in front of stools. They join her in the singing.)

I'm gonna drink that healin' water,

I'm gonna drink that healin' water,

Some o' dese days, God know it,

I'm gonna drink that healin' water

Some o' dese days.

(Sojourner comes up onstage and stands singing before other

actors.)

I'm gonna walk on de streets of glory,

I'm gonna walk on de streets of glory,

Some o' dese days, God knows it,

I"m gonna walk on de streets of glory, Some o' dese days.

SOJOURNER; (Addressing audience) Momin' chillun. Ain't it a

glorious day ! Old Auntie Sojourner Truth say: Look

up from God's footstool to the heavens, and thank the Lord that we can walk tall and free in the light of this year 1870. Hallelujah! Thirty years I been workin' for God. I said:

God, what will you have me do? And it came to me to go to

work for my people, for they be as poor as anyone on God's

© Family Plays

footstool. Yes! And to go to work for ill people searching

for freedom. Lord, God, thank you for bringing us all

together, and thank you for the joy of another day!

ALL: Glory Hallelujah!

(They hum spiritual over following narration until

completed, then take their places upon the stools.)

NARRATOR: (Actor #3) Sojourner's been praying and talking to God

like that as long as she can remember . . .

NARRATOR: (Actor #4) . . . ever since she was a little girl named

Belle and spoke only Dutch like her masters.

NARRATOR: (Actor # 6) That was long before she changed her name

to Sojourner Truth.

NARRATOR: (Actor #2) Her mother, Mau Mau Bett, and her daddy,

Baumfree, made sure she would always remember her

p r a y e r s .

During the above narration, Sojourner begins to change her

clothers, from old woman to the young Belle. Takes off bonnet, glasses, shawl, etc., as Actor #5 comes forward to

sit in chair.)

BAUMFREE; (As if speaking to a small child.) Now Belle, you

listen real good this time, and then see if you can say it .

(Baumfree starts the Lord's prayer in Dutch, as Belle, standing aside, says it in English.) "Onze vader, die in den

hemelen zijl . . . "

SOJOURN ER: "Our father, who art in heaven

(Baumfree continues whispering the words, as Belle,

remembering, stands transfixed.)

SOJOURNER: . . . "Hallowed be thy name. . . "

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BAUMFREE: (Baumfree's voice comes up on last line to finish

prayer.) .. . "en de heerlijheid en de zaligheid." Amen.

SOJOURNER: ... "For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the

Glory, Forever." Amen.

BAUMFREE: (Still speaking as if to a small child) Now, that's real good. I'm proud of you. You remember what else Mau Mau

taught you? When you pray to God, He always hears you. And when you're beaten or cruelly treated, or ... you get into trouble, you just ask Him for help, and He'll always

help you.

SOJOURNER: (Moving into scene with Baumfree.) I remember that

like it was yesterday. Mau Mau would say: "Never lie or

steal and always obey your master."

BAUMFREE: She would point up at the sky and say: "Look at all

those stars in the sky. Those same stars you see are

shining down on all your brothers and sisters who have been sold away."

SOJOURNER: It's like we was all always together.

NARRATOR: (Actor #4) Belle was only nine then, but she knew her

mother was leading up to something. It sounded like some­

one was going away, and Belle was frightened.

(Belle runs to corner of stage, trembling in fright. Actor #6

comes forward and bangs gavel on table as if at a slave auc tio n.)

AUCTIONEER: (Actor #6) Sold for two hundred and fifty dollars. Now, then, what have we got here? (Cro sses to Belle and drags her to table center.) A fine young black gal with plenty of workin' years ahead of her. What am I bid? What am I bid? (He pauses) Come on, folks, let's hear a bid on this gal. She's plenty old enough to work. Talk to me. Talk

3

© Family Plays

to me. (Cracks his gavel again) No bids on this gal? All

right, all right, I'll throw her in with that bunch of sheep over there. What am I bid for that flock of healthy sheep?

(Actor #2 comes forward.)

NEELY: (Actor #2) One hundred dollars.

AUCTIONEER: (Bangs his gavel) Sold to Mr. Neely, one flock of

sheep and one black gal for hundred dollars.

NEELY: Come on, gal, you belong to me now. (He takes Belle by the

arm roughly and drags her off.)

(Actor #6 goes back to stool.)

WOMAN: (Actor #3) (Seated on stool) Belle's new master thought breaking in a slave was like breaking in a horse and that's

when Belle cried out to the God Mau Mau Betts had told her

about.

(Sojourner runs in and kneels D.S.R.)

SOJOURNER: Oh, Lord, that Mr. Neeley's the meanest master ... He

beats me so hard ... Please, God, can't you get me a new master? If it was you who was in trouble, I'd help you out, you know that. You just gotta get me a new master. You just gotta . . . and I promise to be real good.

NARRATOR: (Actor #5) God must have heard her because it wasn't long after that her father came to Mr. Shriver, a tavern

owner, and told him about Belle.

(Actor #2 enters, wearing apron)

MR. SHRIVER: (Actor #2) {Speaks with a German Accent) So, I went

over to Neely's and bought her . . . Come on, Belle, you're going to work for me from now on.

4

© Family Plays

(Sojourner follows him into center area. Others enter scene.

Woman (Actor #3) sits R. and Mrs. Shriver (#4)

stands L.)

MRS. SHRIVER: (Actor #4) Sweetin' jugs empty, Belle, Run on down

to the Strand.

(Sojourner pantomimes taking jug and starts out.)

MR. SHRIVER: That can wait, wife. She's got customers to take care

of. (He pantomimes wiping glasses and cleaning the bar. He

and Mrs. Shriver continue pantomiming their work during

the scene.)

WOMAN: (Actor #3) Come on, Bel le, put down your pipe and give us

a song.

(Belle pantomimes smoking pipe.)

MRS. SHRIVER: Belle, are you smoking again?

WOMAN: I thought you believed in the B ible, gal.

SOJOURNER: I do.

WOMAN: Wel l, don't you know the bible says no unclean thing can

enter the kingdom of heaven? Now, what can be more filthy

than the breath of a smoker?

SOJOURNER: Except when I get to heaven, I expect to leave my

breath behind me.

(All laugh. Sojourner pantomimes putting pipe down.)

WOMAN: Come on, Belle, let's have a song.

SHRIVER: She's too busy pouring your whiskey.

WOMAN: Well, put the jug on the table, then she won't have to run

5

© Family Plays

back and forth so much. (They laugh) Come on, Belle, have a little nip with me.

SOJOURNER: I just might do that (She pantomimes taking a sip from the jug and putting it back on the table.)

WOMAN: Let her sing, Shriver.

SHRIVER: Go ahead, Belle, sing to sweetin' the healin' water.

(Sojourner starts to sing and dance. Dumont enters, wearing

a wide-brimmed landowner's hat. The woman dances around

with Sojourner.)

Evenin', Mr. Dumont.

DUMONT: Evenin' Shriver . . . pint of bitters.

(Shriver pantomimes giving him drink and Dumont drinks it,

watching the dancing with great interest.)

Tavern Song

Hi-a-da-bomba Bomba-Ru-Tu Hi-a-da-bomba-Ru-Tu

Where shall we meet on the first day of June? Where shall we meet when it's Pinkster Time? Seven days drinkin' and sleepin' till noon Where shall we meet on this day?

Massa, he say we can dance heel and toe, Seven days drinkin' and sleepin' till noon,

Straw hat and cane with the best calico, That's how we'll dance on that day.

Right foot and left foot and cakewalk on down, That's how we'll strut when it's Pinkster Time.

6

© Family Plays

Laughin' and cuttin' up all over town,

That's how we'll do on that day.

H i-a-da-bomba-

Bomba-Ru-Tu

Hi-a-da-bomba-Ru-Tu.

(The others applaud the song and dance. Sojourner pours

drink for woman who collapses happily in chair.)

DUMONT: (To Shriver) I'll give you three hundred dolllars for that

gal.

SHRIVER: Belle? Oh, she ain't for sale.

DUMONT: You think about it. I'd like to have her.

SHRIVER: How much you say?

DUMONT: $300.00.

MRS. SHRIVER: (Crosses to behind the bar beside her husband) You

offering us $300.00 for Belle, mister? . . . Sold! (She

bangs the bar.)

SHRIVER: (CrossesD S C to Belle and indicates that she go with

Dumont, who waits D SL.)

Go along with Mr. Dumont, Belle, He'll be good to you.

(Dumont strides out SL and Belle follows reluctantly after

him. Other actors return to stools.)

SHRIVER: (To audience) Belle looked kind of scared when she left,

but I knew be all right. Dumont had a lot of slaves

and Belle would have a chance to be with her own kind for a

change.

(Actor #2 goes back to stool, after hanging up apron on

tree.)

© Family Plays