Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth - Women's Rights Activists, Facts and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › AmericanSojourner TruthDecember 1, 17971,861 views

0 based on 0 rates
Sojourner Truth Biography Stories 

Sojourner Truth's Personal Details

Sojourner truth was an African American abolitionist who was the first black woman to win a case against a white man

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 1, 1797
Died onNovember 26, 1883
NationalityAmerican
FamousAfrican American Authors, African American Slaves, Feminists, Activists, Women's Rights Activists, Women's Rights Activists
Birth PlaceSwartekill, New York
GenderFemale
FatherJames Baumfree
MotherElizabeth Baumfree
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inSwartekill, New York
Famous asAmerican women's rights activist
Died at Age85

Sojourner Truth's photo

Who is Sojourner Truth?

Sojourner Truth was an African American abolitionist who became the first black woman to successfully sue and win the case against a white man to recover her son who had been illegally sold into slavery. She was also a well known women’s rights activist who rose to prominence with her ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’ speech delivered at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. Born as Isabella Baumfree, she took up the name Sojourner Truth when she had a spiritual revelation about the purpose of her life and started traveling and preaching about abolition of slavery. She herself had been born into slavery and was later forcibly married off to another slave. She became the mother of five children, two of whom she was able to save from slavery; her other children however could not be rescued before they were legally freed. She later joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts which had been founded by the major abolitionists of those times. Here she became acquainted with William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles. After the group disbanded, she joined the abolitionist George Benson and along with him started attending conventions and delivering speeches on anti-slavery issues, women’s rights, prison reforms, etc. She was a highly respected orator much admired by abolitionists and women’s rights activists for her works.

// Famous African American Slaves

Madam C. J. Walker

Madam C. J. Walker

Madame C.J Walker was an entrepreneur and philanthropist of African-American descent. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, profile, career & timeline

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was an American scientist and inventor. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline.

Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano was a prominent Black activist who worked hard to put an end to slave trade in Britain and its colonies. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

She was one of the several children—historians mention this figure to be either 10 or 12—born to slaves James Baumfree and Elizabeth. Her parents were owned by Colonel Hardenbergh.

After the death of her owners, Truth was sold off at an auction along with a flock of sheep in 1806. She was just nine years old then. Her new owner John Neely was a very cruel man.

She was sold off a couple more times before she became the property of John Dumont in 1810. Dumont was kind towards his slaves but his wife ill-treated them and made their lives miserable.

Later Life

The work on legislation to abolish slavery had started by 1799 in the state of New York although the legal proceeding for emancipating all the slaves was completed only by July 1827. Truth escaped to freedom with her infant daughter in late 1826; she had to leave behind her other children as they could not be legally freed.

She found work at the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagener and lived there till the approval of the New York State Emancipation Act in 1827.

Truth’s five year old son Peter had been illegally sold off by Dumont after the passing of the law that freed all the slaves. She went to get back her son whom she learnt was being abused by his new owner. She won the case after months of lengthy legal proceedings and became one of the first black women to win such a case against a white man.

She converted to Christianity and moved with Peter to New York City where she found work as a housekeeper for a Christian Evangelist, Elijah Pierson, and worked for him till his death.

She had a spiritual experience in 1843 and she adopted the name ‘Sojourner Truth’. She started traveling and giving speeches about abolition of slavery. She joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1844. At the association which was founded by abolitionists, she met famous personalities like William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles.

She was not educated and could not read or write. So she dictated her memoirs to a friend Olive Gilbert. William Lloyd Garrison, a famous abolitionist, privately published her book ‘The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave’ in 1850.

He joined George Thompson, an abolitionist and speaker in 1851. She attended the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention where she delivered the famous speech which came to be known as ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’

She worked with Marius Robinson, the editor of the ‘Ohio Anti-Slavery Bugle’ from 1851 to 1853. She became a much sought after speaker on abolition and spent the next several years traveling and speaking on topics like slavery, women’s suffrage, politics, prison reforms, women’s rights, etc.

She spoke to the American Equal Rights Association in 1867 where she was promoted as one of the main convention speakers. She spoke of the rights of black women and on the issue of women’s suffrage which she felt was a highly ignored right of women.

She advocated for the recruitment of black soldiers in the army during the Civil War. Her own grandson led by example by enlisting in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.

Major Works

She was one of the foremost feminist leaders of the abolition movement and a campaigner for women’s rights. She was a forceful orator who fearlessly spoke about varied topics like anti-slavery movements, women’s emancipation, capital punishment, prison reforms, and universal property rights, among others.

Personal Life & Legacy

As a teenager she fell in love with a slave named Robert who had a different owner. She even had a child with him even though they could not get married as Robert’s owner forbade him to do so.

Her owner Dumont forced her to marry another slave, Thomas, with whom she had four children including one who died as an infant.

She led a very active life and continued speaking and campaigning well into her old age. She died of old age related problems in 1883.

Trivia

This abolitionist was listed on the list of 100 Greatest African Americans by the scholar Molefi Asante in 2002.

She was the first black woman to be honoured with a bust in the U.S. Capitol; her bust was sculpted by the noted artist Artis Lane.

// Famous Women's Rights Activists

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch was an American economist, sociologist and pacifist who won the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. This biography of Emily Greene Balch provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was an American feminist who played a major role in the women's suffrage movement. This biography of Susan B. Anthony provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Evita Peron

Evita Peron

Radio actress Evita Peron was the second wife of President Juan Peron of Argentina. This biography of Evita Peron provides detailed information about her childhood, life, works, achieements & timeline.

Sojourner Truth biography timelines

  • // 1797
    She was one of the several children—historians mention this figure to be either 10 or 12—born to slaves James Baumfree and Elizabeth. Her parents were owned by Colonel Hardenbergh.
  • // 1799 To 1827
    The work on legislation to abolish slavery had started by 1799 in the state of New York although the legal proceeding for emancipating all the slaves was completed only by July 1827. Truth escaped to freedom with her infant daughter in late 1826; she had to leave behind her other children as they could not be legally freed.
  • // 1806
    After the death of her owners, Truth was sold off at an auction along with a flock of sheep in 1806. She was just nine years old then. Her new owner John Neely was a very cruel man.
  • // 1810
    She was sold off a couple more times before she became the property of John Dumont in 1810. Dumont was kind towards his slaves but his wife ill-treated them and made their lives miserable.
  • // 1827
    She found work at the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagener and lived there till the approval of the New York State Emancipation Act in 1827.
  • // 1843 To 1844
    She had a spiritual experience in 1843 and she adopted the name ‘Sojourner Truth’. She started traveling and giving speeches about abolition of slavery. She joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1844. At the association which was founded by abolitionists, she met famous personalities like William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles.
  • // 1850
    She was not educated and could not read or write. So she dictated her memoirs to a friend Olive Gilbert. William Lloyd Garrison, a famous abolitionist, privately published her book ‘The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave’ in 1850.
  • // 1851
    He joined George Thompson, an abolitionist and speaker in 1851. She attended the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention where she delivered the famous speech which came to be known as ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’
  • // 1851 To 1853
    She worked with Marius Robinson, the editor of the ‘Ohio Anti-Slavery Bugle’ from 1851 to 1853. She became a much sought after speaker on abolition and spent the next several years traveling and speaking on topics like slavery, women’s suffrage, politics, prison reforms, women’s rights, etc.
  • // 1867
    She spoke to the American Equal Rights Association in 1867 where she was promoted as one of the main convention speakers. She spoke of the rights of black women and on the issue of women’s suffrage which she felt was a highly ignored right of women.
  • // 26th Nov 1883
    She led a very active life and continued speaking and campaigning well into her old age. She died of old age related problems in 1883.
  • // 2002
    This abolitionist was listed on the list of 100 Greatest African Americans by the scholar Molefi Asante in 2002.

// Famous Feminists

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was an eminent French writer, intellectual, activist, and philosopher. This biography profiles her childhood, life, thoughts, achievements and timeline.

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was an American feminist who played a major role in the women's suffrage movement. This biography of Susan B. Anthony provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Joan Jett

Joan Jett

Joan Jett is an American rock singer, musician, composer, actress, and record producer. This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer, best known for her novels, short stories and poems. This biography of Margaret Atwood provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley was an author of the Romantic era whose first novel is regarded a benchmark in English literature. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, profile, career and timeline

Rose Macaulay

Rose Macaulay

Rose Macaulay was an English author who primarily wrote novels along with several biographies and travel writings. This biography of Emilie Rose Macaulay provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Sojourner Truth's FAQ

  • What is Sojourner Truth birthday?

    Sojourner Truth was born at 1797-12-01

  • When was Sojourner Truth died?

    Sojourner Truth was died at 1883-11-26

  • Where was Sojourner Truth died?

    Sojourner Truth was died in Battle Creek, Michigan

  • Which age was Sojourner Truth died?

    Sojourner Truth was died at age 85

  • Where is Sojourner Truth's birth place?

    Sojourner Truth was born in Swartekill, New York

  • What is Sojourner Truth nationalities?

    Sojourner Truth's nationalities is American

  • Who is Sojourner Truth's father?

    Sojourner Truth's father is James Baumfree

  • Who is Sojourner Truth's mother?

    Sojourner Truth's mother is Elizabeth Baumfree

  • What is Sojourner Truth's sun sign?

    Sojourner Truth is Sagittarius

  • How famous is Sojourner Truth?

    Sojourner Truth is famouse as American women's rights activist