Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was born as Isabella Baumfree in Swartekill, New York, which is now part of the unincorporated community of Rifton. As typical of children born into slavery, her date of birth was not recorded. Historians estimate that she was likely born around 1797. She was one of at least 12 children and spoke Dutch during their daily lives, due to the area once having been under Dutch control.

The Baumfree family was owned by Colonel Hardenbergh. After his death, their ownership was passed to his son, Charles. In 1806, Charles Hardenbergh died and the family was separated. At the age of 9, Isabella was sold at an auction with a flock of sheep for $100. Her new owner, John Neely, was harsh and violent. She was eventually sold two more times, finally becoming the property of John Dumont in West Park, New York. It was there she learned to speak English.

Around 1815, Isabella fell in love with Robert, a slave from a neighboring farm. They had a daughter, Diana. Robert’s owner forbade them from seeing each other because any children they had would be the property of John Dumont. They never saw each other again. In 1817, Dumont forced her to marry an older slave named Thomas. They had a son, Peter, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophia.

The state of New York began to negotiate the abolition of slavery in 1799. John Dumont reneged on his promise to emancipate Isabella, so escaped with her infant daughter, Sophia, in late 1826. Peter and Elizabeth stayed behind. On July 4, 1827, the state of New York emancipated all slaves. She soon learned that Peter had been illegally sold to a man in Alabama. She took the issue to court and secured Peter’s return. This was the first in case in which a black woman successfully challenged a white man in a United States court.

Isabella moved to New York City in 1829, where she worked as a housekeeper. Peter stayed with his mother until 1839. At that time, he took a job on a whaling ship called the Zone of Nantucket. Isabella received three letters from her son between 1840 and 1841. However, when the ship returned to port in 1842, Peter was not on board. She never heard from him again.

On June 1, 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth, devoting her life to Methodism (the Methodist Movement) and the abolition of slavery. In 1844, she joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Northampton, Massachusetts. The organization fought for many issues including women's rights and pacifism.

In 1850, Truth’s memoirs were published in the book “The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave”. She dictated her recollections to a friend, since she could not read or write. That same year, she spoke at the first National Women's Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts. She soon began touring regularly, speaking to large crowds on the subjects of slavery and human rights. In May of 1851, Truth delivered a speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron. The speech would come to be known as "Ain't I a Woman?"

Truth continued to tour Ohio from 1851 to 1853, working to publicize the antislavery movement in the state. As her reputation grew and the abolition movement gained momentum, she drew increasingly larger and more welcoming audiences. Truth sought political equality for all women, and chastised the abolitionist community for failing to seek civil rights for black women as well as men. She openly expressed concern that the movement would fizzle after achieving victories for black men, leaving both white and black women without suffrage and other key political rights.

Sojourner Truth also made significant contributions during the Civil War by helping to recruit black troops for the Union Army and collecting supplies for union regiments. She encouraged her grandson to enlist in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first Black unit in the United States during the Civil War. In 1864, Truth was called to Washington, D.C., to contribute to the National Freedman's Relief Association. During this time, she met and spoke with President Abraham Lincoln about her beliefs and her experience.

Truth continued to fight for reform. In 1865, she attempted to force the desegregation of streetcars in Washington by riding in cars designated for whites. She started the movement to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves. She argued that ownership of private property, and particularly land, would give African Americans self-sufficiency and free them from a kind of indentured servitude to wealthy landowners. Although Truth pursued this goal forcefully for many years, she was unable to sway Congress.

Truth was also an outspoken opponent of capital punishment, testifying before the Michigan state legislature against the practice. She also championed prison reform across the country.

Sojourner Truth died at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 26, 1883. Until her death, Truth continued to speak passionately on the subjects of women's rights, universal suffrage, and prison reform. Truth is remembered as one of the foremost leaders of the abolition movement and an early advocate of women's rights.

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AIN'T I A WOMAN?

by Sojourner Truth

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? "intellect" That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? 

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. 

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. 

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.