Sojourner TruthSojourner Truth

Fernando De La Cruz Fernando De La Cruz Andrew DiazAndrew Diaz

Who was Sojourner Truth?

African-American abolitionist and women’s rights advocate.

Born in Hurley, New York , 1797.

Daughter of James & Elizabeth Baumfree, who were slaves.

Dutch-speaking slave with the name of Isabella.

At what age was she separated from her

family?Separated from her family at age nine.

Sold several times and belonged to different owners.

Suffered from physical and sexual abuse from her owners.

In 1810, sold to John and Sally Dumont for $175. And learned to speak English during these years.

Lived isolated from other African-Americans.

Her Life (continued)

In 1815, she met a slave named Robert who was owned by another master.

They wanted to get married but his owner didn’t allow their relationship. But they had a daughter, Diana.

Isabella and Robert never saw each other again.

Isabella was married to another older slave named Thomas. They had 5 children.

Her Walk to Freedom

• Inspired by her conversations with God, which she did alone in the woods, Isabella walked to freedom in 1826.

• She gained the strength and confidence to resist her former master by calling on the supernatural for the power to survive.

• So she escaped with her infant daughter, Sophia but left her other daughter and son behind.

• In 1827, the emancipation of every slave in New York was ordered.

Her move in 1828

Isabella moved to New York City.

She joined a Methodist church.

She became a preacher.

She met abolitionists and women’s rights crusaders.

Traveled giving lectures.

Powerful speaker

On June 1, 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth to reflect her new life as a travelling teller of truth.

Spoke about her memoir that was published in 1850 , The Narrative of Sojourner Truth that were about her suffering as a slave.

Sojourner’s Speeches

Her speeches were not political.

Based on her life experiences as a woman and a former slave.

Spoke at woman’s rights conventions.

One speech called, “Ain’t I a Woman?”.

Work during the Civil War

Became political in her work.

She helped to recruit to get blacks into the Union Army.

Volunteered by taking them food and clothes.

Met with President Abraham Lincoln to tell him about her beliefs and experience.

After the Civil war

Continued her work to help freed slaves.

Continued preaching for women’s rights.

Lectured for the woman’s suffrage movement.

Fought for land to resettle the freed slaves.

Fought to have the fifteenth amendment allow for black women to vote too not just the black men.

Death and affect on African-American people

• Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883.

• In her home in Battle Creek, Michigan.

• 86 years old.

• Buried at Oak Hill cemetery.

• One of the first women leaders to preach about woman’s rights.

• Fought to help African-Americans who had been freed from slavery.

• Her famous speeches are still remembered today.

“The Lord gave me Sojourner because I was to travel up and

down the land, showing people their sins, and being a

sign unto them.”This quote is powerful because it tells us about how strong she believed in her faith and religion. She looked for God for answers and maybe felt he sent her to help people she met.

“I’m not going to die, honey; I’m going home like a

shooting star.”

This quote is powerful because this is what she said a few years before she died when she started getting sick. And it shows that she was very strong and maybe wasn’t afraid to die. That she was going to be happy going with God.

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