American 19th Century

Sojourner Truth was an antislavery activist and speaker. She gave popular lectures sharing her story as a “runaway slave.” Truth sold cartes-de-visite like this one at those talks (and by mail) to support herself. She printed the photographs with the quote “I sell the shadow to support the substance.” Truth even had the cards copyrighted to ensure that only she could profit from her “shadow” or likeness.

Truth also advocated for women’s rights. Her pose in this photograph, as she pauses from knitting, asserts the dignity something traditionally considered “women’s work.” She spoke at the first National Women’s Rights Convention and later delivered her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech.