Sojourner Truth was the first black feminist. Long before it became fashionable, this strong-boned, chisel-faced, sit-up-straight woman was a lone voice speaking for the rights of black women in the nineteenth century. Her refusal to capitulate women's rights for the sake of black rights, resulted in her being challenged by an angry crowd of men to submit herself to a physical examination to prove she was a woman. Sojourner boldly bared her breasts, declaring it was their shame, not hers, to do so.<BR>The Book of Life is a unique insight into how black women viewed the world in the nineteenth century, with a message for the woman of today: "Don't just talk about getting your rights, go out and seize them!"