Akron's Sojourner Truth Plaza featured in March edition of Smithsonian magazine

Akron's Sojourner Truth Project and Legacy Plaza has made its way into the national spotlight as a project that highlights Women's History Month, a commemoration held in March every year.

Smithsonian magazine’s March edition features a 12-page spread titled “The Remarkable Untold Story of Sojourner Truth.” The article focuses on Truth's life and legacy and also features her time in Akron, where she delivered her historic speech known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” The Sojourner Truth Project and the Legacy Plaza are both explored in detail within Cynthia Greenlee's article.

“We were thrilled to work with Smithsonian on this expansive story of Sojourner Truth’s life and her time in Akron," said Towanda Mullins, chair of the Sojourner Truth Project. "Smithsonian’s national and international reach will encourage visitors from near and far to visit the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza in our great city of Akron.”

Construction of the plaza is about 90% complete and will be unveiled at a public ceremony the evening of May 29.

The plaza will feature a life-size bronze statue created by Akron artist Woodrow Nash. Within the concrete pathways of the plaza leading to the statue will be blocks commemorating Truth's life, including biographical information about where she was born and raised, as well as where she died.

"This was our project to honor the 100-year anniversary of women's rights to vote, and Sojourner Truth was one of the early voices in the 70-plus year effort to gain the right to vote for women," said Jackie Derrow, the communications chair for the Sojourner Truth Project. "I find Truth to be an inspiration, a woman of such courage, and we're so fortunate to have landed on this project."

Derrow also thanked the United Way of Summit & Medina for donating what was their parking lot to become the plaza, noting that the agency will be the future custodians of the space and make sure it is well kept and maintained.

Mullins said the original idea to commemorate Sojourner Truth came from University of Akron professor Faye Hersh Dambrot, who originally asked Nash to create a statue nearly 20 years ago. Nash created an 18-inch miniature version of the statue, but funding for the life-size version was nonexistent, so the project never materialized, and Dambrot eventually passed away.

"The Sojourner Truth Project committee stands on the past pioneers of this project under the leadership of Dambrot," Mullins said. "It's imperative to know this project started two decades ago and sat abandoned, and we've come as future stewards [of Truth's legacy], and we were able to finally bring this project to fruition. If it wasn't for them, I don't know that we would be where we are."

"This project is a way for Akron to acknowledge its history, to celebrate its history. We view the plaza as a place where people can learn and gather in celebration; it's going to be a very exciting and vibrant space," Derrow added.

For those who can't find Smithsonian at their local news stand, Sojourner Truth project leaders recommend trying Libby, the free reading app offered through the Akron-Summit County Public Library and many other libraries. Just download the Libby app and use your library card to create an account. The issue should be available on Libby by March 1.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter, @athompsonABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sojourner Truth Plaza featured in March edition of Smithsonian magazine