Sojourner Truth Biography

Sojourner Truth was a popular African American abolitionist and women's rights. Initially, Truth was born in salvery community and served as an abolitionist, in 1826 she escaped with her infant daughter and created various reforms like prison reforms, property rights and universal suffrage. In 1851, she extemporaneously delivered a speech on racial inequalities "Ain't I a Woman?" at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. Through that conversation, she became world popular.  

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The above image shows the popular American Women Rights Activist- Sojourner Truth

Early Life Of Sojourner Truth 

Sojourner Truth’s real name is Isabella Baumfree.  According to the book of life sojourner truth, she was born in slavery community in 1797 in the town of Swartekill, in Ulster County, New York. But her correct date of birth remains unknown. James was the father of Truth and he was an enslaved person captured in modern-day Ghana. Elizabeth Baumfree was the mother of Truth and she, also known as Mau-Mau Bet, was the daughter of enslaved people from Guinea. Truth was one among 12 children to her parents.  

Life Of Sojourner Truth Do As An Enslaved Person

The Baumfree family worked as slaves for Colonel Hardenbergh and spent their living hood at the colonel's estate in Esopus, New York. The colonel's estate was located 95 miles north of New York City. Both the Baumfrees and the Hardenbaughs use to speak Dutch as these areas were under Dutch control. The Colonel died and his ownership of Baumfrees passed to his son, Charles. In 1806, Charles Hardenbergh died. Meanwhile, Baumfrees were separated from the group.  “Belle” was the nickname of Truth, that time she was sold to the new owner John Neely for $100. Within the next two years, she was sold to two more people and finally got resident on the property of John Dumont at West Park, New York. There she learnt to speak English. 

Truth's Husband and Children

In 1815, Truth fell in love with Robert, who was an enslaved person on a neighbouring farm. Diana was the daughter of Truth and Robert. Robert’s owner refused to accept their relationship. Because Truth’s owner John Dumont said that Diana belonged to her property. So, Robert and Truth do not get a chance to meet again.  In 1817, Dumont forced Truth and married an older slave person on his farm. And they had a son, Peter and two daughters, Sophia and Elizabeth. 

Define Sojourner Truth’s Early Years of Freedom

In 1799, the people from New York started working for the abolition of slavery and released all the enslaved people on 4th July 1827. But, Truth does not get the right time. Because John Dumont promised them to give freedom but continued in the same way. In 1826, Truth escaped from that place with his infant daughter Sophia and left all other daughters and sons in the same place. After a few days, she came to know that her 5 years old son Peter was sold illegally to an Alabama man. 

She decided to face this issue legally and took it to court. She found justice and secured her son and Peter return from the South. That was the first case, in which a Black woman got justice after filing a case against a white man in a United States court. In 1829, she converted herself to Christianity and moved to Newyork with his son Peter. She started working as a housekeeper for Christian evangelist Elijah Pierson. Later, she served as housekeeper for the home of Robert Matthews, who was also known as Prophet Matthias. Robert Matthews was a young reputed con man and a cult leader.

After a few days, Elijah Pierson died and Truth changed households. Meanwhile,  Robert Matthews got arrested and claimed that he killed Elijah Pierson for his personal benefits. Folgers, a couple who belong to the same church as Elijah attempted to corner Sojourner Truth as part of the crime. Due to the lack of evidence, Matthews was released. Meanwhile, he was the hot topic in the penny press, so he decided to move west. In 1835, Truth filed a case against Folger regarding filing a wrong case and won the case. 

Peter and Truth stayed together till 1839. Later, Peter got a  job on a whaling ship called the Zone of Nantucket. Between 1840 & 1841, Truth received three letters from her son peter. The ship landed in the port in 1842, Peter was not on board. And Truth did not receive any information about his son. 

Sojourner Truth As Abolitionist and Women's Rights

On 1st June 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth and devoted her entire life to  Methodism and the abolition of slavery. In 1844, Sojourner Truth joined an association created by an abolitionist, Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts. This association was named for protecting women's rights and pacifism. Many people spent their life together on 500 acres as a self-sufficient community. 

Here, Truth got a chance to meet many leading abolitionists at Northampton. Like Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass and David Ruggles. In 1846, Truth left the community and started her career as an activist and reformer. 

In 1850, Truth raised her voice in the first National Woman's Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts. Later, she accompanied abolitionist George Thompson and started travelling to many places and delivered her speech on human rights and slavery to large crowds. She received more audience for her speech on the abolition movement and gained momentum. She also received more hospitable audiences and stood as an abolitionist leader and a testament to the humanity of enslaved people.

The Book Of Life Sojourner Truth

In 1850, The Narrative Of Sojourner Truth was written down by Sojourner Truth. She shared her life events in a book named 'The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave'. Garrison wrote the preface of the book. Truth also dictated her book to Olive Gilbert, because she could not read or write. 

Sojourner Truth’s Speech 

In May 1851, Truth delivered her speech on the topic "Ain't I a Woman?"  at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron.  Marius Robinson, the editor of an Ohio newspaper, published the first version of Truth’s speech in the newspaper. Marius recorded the convention and words of truth and published them in the newspaper. But those recordings did not include the question "Ain't I a woman?" even once. She expressed all her thoughts and views to support women’s rights. Even though her first language was Dutch, she included Southern idioms in her phrase. 

Truth’s opinions were also considered radical among the abolitionist circle. She also talked about political equality for all women and the difficulties faced by the abolitionist community. And how they are facing issues to regain the civil rights for Black women as well as men.

Truth’s Activity During Civil War 

Truth also contributed her part as an abolitionist and worked during the Civil War. He helped the Union Army to recruit Black troops. He also encouraged her grandson, James Caldwell in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. In 1864, the President of the USA, Abraham Lincoln called her to  Washington, D.C and spoke to her about contributing to the National Freedman's Relief Association. She also spoke about her beliefs and her experience. In 1865, Truth stood against racial segregation in streetcars in Washington. As the white people were riding in cars. Abraham Lincon issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but truth continued to move for change. Later, she worked on the movement to secure land grants for the enslaved people from the federal government.  

She also argued about providing ownership on private property and particular land for African Americans, which will help them to lead self-sufficient and free wealthy lives. Till her old age, she raised her voice for universal suffrage, women’s rights and prison reform. Truth also participated in Michigan championed prison reform, which was held across the country. All the controversy expressed by Truth was supported by friends Wendell Phillips, Amy Post, Lucretia Mott, Garrison, and Susan B. Anthony

Truth’s Death And Accomplishment 

Truth will always be remembered as the foremost leader, who stood for the abolition movement and advocated for women’s rights. After the great effort of Truth, during the 19th century, an amendment was passed for allowing women to vote. This amendment was not ratified until 1920, which was nearly four decades after the death of Truth. On 26th November 1883, she died at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. Later, she was buried at Battle Creek's Oak Hill Cemetery.

In 1970, a library in State University of New York-New Paltz, in New Paltz, New York was named The Sojourner Truth Library to honour the abolitionist and feminist. The house of Sojourner Truth was given to a nonprofit organization, which was sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ located in Gary, Indiana. That non-profitable organization was founded in 1997 to serve homeless women and their children to provide shelter, food pantry,  housing assistance and therapeutic programs.