STORIES
Women
DONATE

Sojourner Truth

by Katey from Raleigh

Sojourner from 1797-1883<br> (www.africawithin.com/<br>bios/sojourner_truth.htm)
Sojourner from 1797-1883
(www.africawithin.com/
bios/sojourner_truth.htm)

Sojourner Truth was born with the name Isabella Baumfree. Isabella was born in 1797 in Ulster County, New York. She spoke Dutch but never really learned how to read or write. Sojourner married a guy by the name of Thomas in 1815 and he was a slave too. She had five children. Their names were Diana, Peter, Elizabeth, Sophia, and the fifth child died as an infant. In 1815 Diana was born, in 1821 Peter was born, in 1825 Elizabeth was born and in 1826 Sophia was born. Everywhere Sojourner traveled, her grandson, Sammy Banks, was with her. Mrs. Truth spoke quiet well for someone who didn’t know how to read or write. In 1856 she moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. A year after living in Battle Creek she moved to Harmonia. In her life she had only 3 lawsuits against her and every last one of them she won. During those years women really couldn’t win lawsuits but she did.


She was one of the most passionate of female abolitionists in which she was a slave her self at one point in her life. Sojourner escaped from her New York owner after she was brutally treated and sold from her family. By the 1840’s Sojourner became a powerful speaker against slavery. She would tell her listeners how some slaves were kept back and afraid to act by beatings. She also told them how sometimes the slaves were beaten with spiked sticks and chains. Once she told the audience that as a teenager she had been taken into a barn by her master for absolutely no reason at all and tied up by her wrists. She said that her master tore her shirt from her back and whipped her with a bunch of sticks until her back was bleeding. Whenever Sojourner was being whipped she would clench her fists hard enough for her fingernails to draw blood from her palms, she did this so she wouldn’t have to satisfy her master by screaming.


Sojourner truth was a self-educated woman. When a woman by the name of Harriet Beecher asked Sojourner how she got her name she responded by saying “I felt God had called me to travel up and down the land, showing the people their sins and being a sign unto them.” Sojourner Truth really was interested in politics and she supported suffrage. In 1843, 46-year-old Isabella adopted the name Sojourner Truth, after she left New York and traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts to see her grandson James Caldwell born. Sojourner was involved with many important people like Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln had a tribute given to Sojourner for her efforts in bettering conditions for Africa-Americans. In 1864 she was appointed to the National Freedman’s Relief Association for the same reason of bettering conditions for African-Americans.

The real life of Sojourner Truth
The real life of Sojourner Truth

Truth went through a lot to achieve her goal of releasing blacks from slavery. When she was in the South she was threatened to be murdered by some Southerners for many different reasons. Even though she had threats coming her way, she still stood with her head up high and her back straight. A lot of people told her that she wouldn't approach her goal for freeing the blacks but she did reach her goal. Most people just thought that she was great leader. Sojourner's work actually saved and changed many Northerners, Southerners, blacks, and whites. She had a great personality, strong will to do things, and a lot of courage. With her having all of this she made a great and lasting difference in the United States.

Sojourner Truth died in 1883. She died knowing that what she did was the right thing. Sojourner was a good mother and a great leader. I am pretty sure that she wouldn’t have wanted anything more than to help her black race be set free. Sojourner died in Battle Creek, Michigan. People say she went to her grave a beloved figure in the abolitionist lore. To this day there are monuments to her that show what she did and that tell why she did it.

Page created on 3/27/2006 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 3/27/2006 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

Extra Info

Sojourner Truth
Memorial Project
60 Meister Boulevard
Freeport, NY
516.867.7480
email:[email protected] ____________________________________________________________ Sojourner Truth Institute of Battle Creek
165 North Washington
Battle Creek, Michigan 49017
269.965.2613
fax: 269.660.9072
[email protected]
 

Author Info

I wrote a paper on Sojourner Truth because of the fact that she ran from her fear and chased after something she wanted; to be free and able to share her experience with others. Sojourner Truth is a true inspiration for young people.