Begin by reading the information given about Sojourner Truth's life. Consider how her early life as a slave set her up to become an abolitionist and advocate for women's rights. When you have completed your research, sign the final document.
"Ain't I a Woman" Speech
During May of 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered an improvised speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention called "Aint I a Woman?". The first version was published later by Marius Robinson, who was the editor of the Ohio Newspaper called The Anti-Slavery Bulge. Robinson attended the convention and recorded her words, though it did not include the famous phrase. It would appear in print 12 years later, but it was unlikely she would use the southern phrasing considering her first language was Dutch.
Some of Truth's opinions that she presented were considered radical. She sought political equality for all women and chastised the abolitionist community because they failed to seek civil rights for black people. In addition, she openly expressed her concern that the movement would die down and women would be left without suffrage and other key political rights.
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Early Life and the Escape to Freedom
Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery around 1797 in Swartekill, New York, which was 95 miles north of New York City, and where everyone's primary language was Dutch. The Baumfree family, which had as many as twelve children, was originally owned by Colonel Hardenburg, and passed down to his son, Charles, after his death. The Baumfrees were separated after Charles passed away.
Baumfree was sold three times, her final destination being the property of Dumont at West Park, New York, where she learned to speak English. In 1815, she fell in love with a slave named Robert from a neighboring farm, and the two had a daughter named Diana. However, Robert's owner forbade the relationship because other children produced by the union would be the property of Dumont rather than his own. In 1817, Baumfree was forced to marry an older slave named Thomas, and they had a son, Peter, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophia.
Baumfree escaped slavery with her infant daughter, Sophia, a year before New York state emancipated all slaves. Her other daughter and son stayed behind. Shortly after her escape, Baumfree learned that Peter had been illegally sold to a man in Alabama. She took the issue to court and eventually reclaimed Peter from the South. The case was one of the first in which a black woman successfully challenged a white man in the United States Court.
Abolition and Women's Rights
On June 1, 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth and devoted her life to Methodism and the abolition of slavery. In 1844, she joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry of Northampton in Massachusetts. The organization was founded by abolitionists who supported many reforms, including women's rights and pacifism. In 1850, Truth spoke at the National Women's Rights convention in Worcester, MA, and began touring regularly with abolitionist George Thompson, speaking to large crowds about slavery and human rights. She was one of several escaped slaves, along with Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, to become a prominent abolitionist leader.
The Narrative of Sojourner Truth
In 1850, Sujourner Truth's memiors were published in "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave". She dictated her words to Olive Gilbert, because she could not read or write. William Lloyd Garrison wrote the preface.
Advocacy During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Sojourner recruited black troops for the Union Army. In 1864, she was called to Washington D.C. to contribute to the National Freedman's Relief Association. She was able to meet and speak with President Abraham Lincoln about her beliefs and experiences. However, Truth stayed true to her reform ideals, and continued to fight for changes, even after Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves within the confederacy. For example, in 1865 Truth attempted to force the desegregation of streetcars in Washington by riding in the cars for white people.
Truth continued to speak passionately about women's rights, universal suffrage, and prison reform. She collaborated with her good friends William Lloyd Garrison and Susan B. Anthony to make the change she believed the world needed.
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