Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was a very brave woman.

Long ago, she was not free. She was born in New York.

She escaped with her baby daughter.

She fought for her family. She went to court to find her son. She won her case against a man. This was a big win.

She gave herself a new name. She wanted to tell the truth. She traveled to many places. She spoke to large crowds.

She spoke for women and for Black people. She helped men join the army. She wanted things to be fair.

She is remembered today. A statue of her is in the Capitol. She was a great leader.

Sojourner Truth was a brave leader.

She was born into slavery in New York. Her first language was Dutch.

She escaped to freedom in 1826 with her baby daughter.

Truth fought for her family. Her son was taken away and sold. She went to court to get him back. In 1828, she won the case. She was one of the first Black women to win in court against a white man.

In 1843, she chose a new name. She became Sojourner Truth. She felt called to travel and preach. She spoke to large crowds about ending slavery.

She also fought for women's rights. In 1851, she gave a famous speech. It is often called "Ain't I a Woman?". During the Civil War, she helped Black men join the army. She worked for fairness for all people until she died. Today, she is remembered as a great hero. A statue of her stands in the U.S. Capitol.

Sojourner Truth was a famous leader in America. She fought for the rights of Black people and women. She also spoke out against alcohol.

Truth was born into slavery in New York. Her parents were James and Elizabeth Bomefree. They lived on an estate in a hilly area called Swartekill.

Her first language was Dutch. She spoke with a Dutch accent her whole life. Truth grew up with many siblings. However, some of her brothers and sisters were sold away. This was a very sad part of her early life.

Truth worked very hard to find freedom. In 1826, she escaped with her baby daughter, Sophia. She later faced a hard job in court. Her son, Peter, had been sold and taken far away. In 1828, she used the name Isabella van Wagenen to sue for his return. She won the case against a white man named Solomon Gedney. This made her one of the first Black women to win in court.

After that, she moved to New York City. She joined the John Street Methodist Church there.

In 1843, Truth made a big change. She chose the name Sojourner Truth. She felt a call from God to travel and preach. She carried her things in a pillowcase. She traveled through the Connecticut River Valley to Massachusetts.

She joined a group called the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. This group supported women's rights and peace. Truth worked there by overseeing the laundry. She supervised both men and women in the community. During this time, she met other famous leaders like Frederick Douglass.

Truth is well known for her powerful words. In 1851, she spoke at a meeting in Akron, Ohio. This speech is often called "Ain't I a Woman?" People remember it because it was so strong. During the Civil War, she helped recruit Black men for the Union army. She also tried to help formerly enslaved people get land. She wanted them to have "forty acres and a mule." Even when things were hard, she never stopped fighting for what was right.

Today, many people remember Sojourner Truth as a hero. In 2014, a magazine named her one of the 100 most significant Americans.

She was the first African American woman to have a statue in the U.S. Capitol. That statue is in Emancipation Hall. Her life shows us how one person can change the world. She proved that Black women are a vital part of history. Her story helps us understand the fight for fairness in America.

Sojourner Truth was a prominent American abolitionist and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to fighting for African-American rights and women's rights. She also advocated for alcohol temperance, which is the movement to reduce or stop the use of alcohol.

Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, between 1797 and 1800. Her parents were James and Elizabeth Bomefree. Her father was captured from what became Ghana. Her mother was from the area of Guinea.

Because her family lived on a Dutch estate, her first language was Dutch. She spoke with a Dutch accent for the rest of her life.

Life during slavery was marked by deep injustice and separation. Truth was one of 10 or 12 children in her family. During her childhood, some of her siblings were sold to different estates. In 1806, following the death of Colonel Hardenbergh, a nine-year-old Truth was sold at auction. She was sold for $100 to a man named John Neely. Neely was described as a harsh and cruel owner. In 1808, she was sold again to Martinus Schryver for $105. Later, she was owned by John Dumont in West Park, New York. Truth suffered repeated abuse during her time with Dumont. She also experienced a heartbreaking loss when a man named Robert, whom she loved, was savagely beaten by owners and never seen again.

Truth took brave steps to secure her own freedom and protect her family. In 1826, she escaped slavery with her infant daughter, Sophia. She could not bring her other children because they were not legally free yet. After escaping, she found refuge with Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen in New Paltz. Truth later faced a major legal battle to recover her son, Peter. He had been sold by Dumont and moved illegally to Alabama. Using the name Isabella van Wagenen, she sued his new owner, Solomon Gedney, in the New York Supreme Court. In 1828, she won the case. This made her one of the first Black women to win a legal battle against a white man.

In 1843, Truth underwent a profound spiritual and personal transformation. She decided to change her name to Sojourner Truth. She believed God had called her to travel and testify to hope.

She began traveling through the Connecticut River Valley and toward Massachusetts. She carried very few belongings, often using just a pillowcase. Truth joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry in 1844. This was a communal group of about 240 members. The group supported pacifism, religious tolerance, and women's rights. Truth worked there by supervising the laundry for both men and women.

Truth became a powerful voice through public speaking and writing. In 1851, she spoke at the Ohio Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio. This speech is famously known by the title "Ain't I a Woman?" Although some versions of the speech used a specific dialect, Truth actually grew up speaking Dutch. In 1850, she published her memoirs, titled *The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: a Northern Slave*. She also sold *cartes-de-visite*, which are small photographic portraits, to support herself.

These portraits helped her fund her work and pay off debts.

During the American Civil War, Truth continued her activism through direct action. She helped recruit Black men to join the Union army. After the war ended, she worked to help formerly enslaved people. She campaigned for land grants for them, often referred to as the promise of "forty acres and a mule." Her influence was recognized even by national leaders. She was once pictured examining the Bible with President Abraham Lincoln. Her life work addressed the intersection of race and gender. She reminded the nation that Black women were a vital part of the struggle for equality.

Today, the legacy of Sojourner Truth is honored in many ways. In 2014, *Smithsonian magazine* included her on a list of the 100 most significant Americans of all time.

She holds a unique place in American history as a pioneer. She was the first African American woman to have a statue in the U.S. Capitol building. Her memorial bust is located in Emancipation Hall within the Capitol Visitor Center.

Her life remains a powerful example of how one person can advocate for justice and change the course of history.