"SONGS of TRUTH - The Awakening" is a MUSICAL DOCUMENTARY in the makng, which originates with the True Story of SOJOURNER TRUTH... one of the most powerful and inspirational stories in American history.

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE JOURNEY OF TRUTH!!! YOUR SUPPORT WILL ENABLE THIS FILM & THIS IMPORTANT STORY TO BE TOLD during this turbulent time of America's 250th year.

SONGS of TRUTH is centered around several recent events:

On Saturday evening, June 20th, before a SOLD OUT crowd at Richmond's historic Hippodrome Theatre, adored stage diva Desirée Roots took the stage as Isabella Baumfree, the woman the world came to know as Sojourner TRUTH. She was joined by a full cast and ensemble in a staged Concert presentation called: SONGS of TRUTH - The Awakening - comprised of songs from an original American musical in development about the woman behind the myth of Sojourner Truth.

In conjunction with the Concert at the Hippodrome, there was a beautiful & meaningful event on Friday June 19th at the Black History Museum and Culture Center of Virginia ("BHMVA"), called “SONGS of TRUTH: A Black Music Month Celebration” - a three way collaboration between the TRUTH musical team, the BHMVA, and the Institute for Contemporary Art (the ICA at VCU). The Juneteenth discussion and musical presentations focused on Sojourner’s time in Virginia during and after the Civil War, the role of black music in her life and in her story, and the process of developing a musical about her life and mission.

Richmond’s The Sunroom filmed both events on Juneteenth weekend, including the Sold Out Concert at the Hippodrome and the SRO presentation at the BHMVA, as well as numerous interviews with the creative and producing teams, and other background material... all with the goal of producing a unique documentary look at how a new musical takes shape, what the creative process is, while exploring the significance of beginning new work on this musical TRUTH, centering Sojourner’s story, at this time and place, in Richmond, Virginia.

Why Sojourner? Why Now?

As Christian Detres put it in RVA Mag: "The hardest thing to swallow is that I'll bet most of you recognize her name, but can't place her deeds. That, to me, is unacceptable." We’d love to change that.

It is still unknown to many that she was born with a different name. That she was born enslaved in New York, not the Deep South. That she was a complex public figure with tremendous “presence” who used her wit and wisdom to navigate the waters of a nation deeply divided and grappling with its dark legacy of enslavement, and subjugation of women. That the Holy Spirit guided her every step as she advocated for Freedom. As Detres writes, "In many depictions of her on stage and screen, she is played with that common Southern 'mammy' patois audiences have coded to 'slave.' Let's unlearn that. Her first language was Dutch. By the time she learned English, after being sold to an English-speaking slaver at age 9, she spoke with a low-country Dutch accent."

In this time of reckoning in America, a nation fraught with rising political, racial, economic, class and gender tensions, Sojourner returns in TRUTH to speak to the hearts and minds of Americans with a message of clear seeing and empowerment.

Her story affirms the fundamental dignity of the soul, the value of every life, to counteract the virus of greed and entitlement that still causes so much harm to so many.

Her story, told with compassion and transformative power, serves to dismantle the pernicious narratives of power-hoarding patriarchy, misogyny, subjugation and exploitation.

The Story

In TRUTH, Sojourner is both the archetypal Preacher-Storyteller and the central figure in TRUTH’s Story within a Story, which she delivers as a kind of eye-opening, heart-stirring ‘Sermon on the Fairgrounds.’

As she recounts her life's journey, we learn how the humanity of her parents and those around her shaped her strength of character and spiritual nature.

We watch as the love and teachings of her mother and father, and then her love as a mother for her children, especially her son Peter, all serve to guide her on the historic, intimate and inspiring journey of her soul.

As she sings from her heart in the holy spirit of TRUTH, she is honoring her parents, children, family and ancestors, while liberating herself from her past, and awakening the audience, young and old. Her Faith in Action gives us Faith in a way forward into a more just and humane way of living, truly loving our neighbors as ourselves, once and for all.

Join Us

The good people of Richmond came to the Museum on Juneteenth, and to the Hippodrome on June 20th, to let their souls be stirred and TRUTH be illuminated. The film about this Concert and these events is a rare opportunity to peek backstage and watch as a new musical in development finds its heart and begins to blossom into something truly original and impactful. SOJOURNER TRUTH is one of the great people of American history, her intimately epic life story invites us all into the room and onto the stage where Change can truly happen. You can join the Sojourn here and now.

Whether or not you were in the room that night, your gift will help carry Sojourner TRUTH's story forward. Even if you know her story like the back of your hand (go you!), this musical will pull you in to a renewal of her living stage presence. You'll leave feeling like you really know her and stood with her in singing "FREEDOM NOW IS COMING AND NO MAN CAN BLOCK THE WAY!"

How Your Gift Will Be Used

Your gift will help support the full fruition of the project at this time - the making of a Richmond-based documentary about the unique and important process of musical theater creation, which includes the mounting and filming of the Sold Out Concert at the historic Hippodrome as well.

Please note: Contributions made here to TRUTH BE TOLD Productions LLC are not tax-deductible charitable donations.

The Team

RVA Mag articles by Christian Detres

‘Songs of Truth’ Brings Sojourner Truth to the Hippodrome

Sojourner Truth and Why Her Story Still Matters

SONGS of TRUTH: The Awakening

A Documentary about Sojourner TRUTH and the Musical in the Making in her name.