Sojourner Truth State Park

Donald J Trump purchased 436-acres of wetlands in the 1990s for $2 million. He hoped to develop a golf course, telling then-Governor Pataki, ""I hope that these 436 acres of property will turn into one of the most beautiful parks anywhere in the world.”

Westchester and Putnam County rejected his plans and refused to allow him to develop a dog park. Trump donated the land to the state was granted a $100 million tax write-off from Pataki. The state closed the park in 2010, since Trump refused to pay its annual $2500 operating costs.

I oftern drive up the Taconic Parkway and flip the bird to the two signs for Donald J Trump State Park.

Since 2015 various groups have attempted to change the park's name and the most recent push is for a native New Yorker, Sojourner Truth, who had been born into slavery under Dutch masters. Two years after her birth New York had voted for the abolition of slavery, however she and her children passed thirty years is sesrvitude before she decided enough.

"I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right."

Her speech "Ain't I a Woman?" was a call for African in America and women everywhere.

This is the 1863 version from Wikipedia.

"Wall, chilern, whar dar is so much racket dar must be somethin' out o' kilter. I tink dat 'twixt de niggers of de Souf and de womin at de Norf, all talkin' 'bout rights, de white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all dis here talkin' 'bout?

"Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted ober ditches, and to hab de best place everywhar. Nobody eber helps me into carriages, or ober mud-puddles, or gibs me any best place!" And raising herself to her full height, and her voice to a pitch like rolling thunder, she asked. "And a'n't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! (and she bared her right arm to the shoulder, showing her tremendous muscular power). I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And a'n't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear de lash as well! And a'n't, I a woman? I have borne thirteen chilern, and seen 'em mos' all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And a'n't I a woman?

"Den dey talks 'bout dis ting in de head; what dis dey call it?" ("Intellect," whispered some one near.) "Dat's it, honey. What's dat got to do wid womin's rights or nigger's rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yourn holds a quart, wouldn't ye be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?" And she pointed her significant finger, and sent a keen glance at the minister who had made the argument. The cheering was long and loud.

"Den dat little man in black dar, he say women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wan't a woman! Whar did your Christ come from?" Rolling thunder couldn't have stilled that crowd, as did those deep, wonderful tones, as she stood there with outstretched arms and eyes of fire. Raising her voice still louder, she repeated, "Whar did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothin' to do wid Him." Oh, what a rebuke that was to that little man.

Turning again to another objector, she took up the defense of Mother Eve. I can not follow her through it all. It was pointed, and witty, and solemn; eliciting at almost every sentence deafening applause; and she ended by asserting: "If de fust woman God ever made was strong enough to turn de world upside down all alone, dese women togedder (and she glanced her eye over the platform) ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now dey is asking to do it, de men better let 'em." Long-continued cheering greeted this. "'Bleeged to ye for hearin' on me, and now ole Sojourner han't got nothin' more to say."

Sojourner Truth State Park works for me.

She was a true New Yorker.