One of the most famous African-American abolitionist and women’s right activist, Sojourner Truth was born in 1797. Sojourner Truth is a self- given name, from 1843 onward, of Isabella Baumfree (biography.com). Truth is remembered for her support to abolitionism, the freedmen and women’s rights (history.com). Sojourner Truth was born into slavery, but she emerged as one of the most notable personalities of the nineteenth century. This essay is going to discuss her struggles and contributions towards attaining freedom and her fight against slavery and women rights.
As mentioned earlier, Truth was born in slavery. Her father, James Baumfree, was a slave in Ghana and her mother, was a daughter of slaves from Guinea. At the age of 9, Isabell Baumfree (Truth’s name before 1873) was sold at an auction to a man named John Neely, whom Truth remembered as harsh and violent. She was sold twice more over the following two years, it was during these years when she learned to speak English. Truth’s first marriage to a slave named Robert in 1815 was forbade by her owner. Two years later, Truth’s owner urged her to marry Thomas, an older slave, with whom she had three children, a son and two daughters (biography.com). In 1817 the …show more content…
It was in 1851, when she gave her most famous speech on poor and working women during the Ohio feminist in Akron. In 1864, she met President Abraham Lincoln and worked with volunteers assisting the black refugees. During 1870’s Truth worked for the rights of the Blacks, initiated efforts to find them jobs and carried lectures for the rights of women. However, in 1883 she was forced to return to Battle Creek because of her failing health. Sojourner Truth died in Battle Creek on November 26, 1883