Sojourner Truth : Black Truth

Sojourner Truth came a long way before becoming an advocate in the abolition movement. Truth was a former slave and her original name before Sojourner truth was, Isabella Bomfree. Sojourner was freed from slavery when the state outlawed the practice in 1827. (This far by Faith) "In 1828, Isabella moved to New York City and soon thereafter became a preacher in the "perfectionist," or pentecostal tradition." As a preacher, along the way she met abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and Fredrick Douglass. Garrison encouraged Truth to give speeches about slavery. Even though Sojourner was illiterate throughout her life she continued to speak at anti slavery rallies and conventions during the 1850s. She had an autobiography published called The

Sojourner Truth, one of the elite black females in women history is atypical of her slaves because her name alone is still being discuss in today’s society. By changing in her name to Sojourner Truth, her name alone is atypical from

On May 29, 1851, Sojourner Truth gave her most famous speech at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. Truth, being born a slave and escaping to her freedom, was both a women’s rights activist and abolitionist. In a male-dominated society, Truth wanted to gain awareness for the inequalities of women and African Americans during the time period. She makes several claims how African Americans and women are not inferior to the white male population. By targeting those males, Truth portrays them as antagonists and thus gives the women and the African Americans something to focus their struggles on. Sojourner Truth attempts to persuade her audience to support the women’s rights movement and on subtler terms, to support the need for African

Sojourner Truth was an extremely strong and courageous woman. She proceeded through many hardships and Truth even escaped the bondage from slavery. After that she spoke out for women’s rights and was even the first African American woman to take a white man to court and win. Throughout her eighty six years of life Sojourner Truth she stumbled through numerous hardships, escaped slavery, and spoke out on women’s rights.

Sojourner Truth whose name was originally Isabella, was born within the year of 1797 (Butler). Truth was one of twelve children to James and Betsy who were slaves to Colonel Ardinburgh, Hurley, Ulster County, New York (Gilbert 13). Truth was the youngest of her siblings who was of six children who weren’t sold away from their parents. Truth’s parents were considered “good” slaves because they were obedient to their master Ardinburgh, from showing their devotion and honor. Soon after Sojourner Truth’s master died, they were able to become freed slaves due to her father being a burden to take care of now that he was unable to work as he had before.

During the late 1840s, Sojourner acquired a reputation as a powerful speaker. Oliver Gilbert was a friend of the Benson’s and they reached out to him to help write Truth’s Narrative. He started making Truth’s narrative at Northampton and had it published by William Lloyd Garrison. A man by the name of Yerrinton printed Truth’s narrative. Truth was supported through donations and the sale of The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, originally published in Boston in 1850. Strangely, Truth sold her 128-page book for 25¢ per copy. Truth travelled for years at a time and surprisingly she was able to take care of herself, while only producing 25¢ for every book she sold.

In Truth's time women were expected to stay home and keep quiet. However, she was brave enough to break those bonds of social normality. After escaping slavery, she traveled around the country as a preacher working to bring attention to the injustices of freed slaves. In her travels she would speak at many peaceful protest," Truth was not intimidated by outstanding authority, she learned to manipulate established institutions to effect reformations (Butler)." In doing all of this she used great bravery to help not only herself, but those in the same situation. She used her bravery to help form the nation that we have today. Without her the racial problems we have today would be way worse.

Sojourner Truth played a vital role in inspiring people to stand up against slavery and injustice. She stood up for herself and every African-American. She had the courage to stand up and leave her slave owner. She stood up for herself and her son in court when he was sold illegally to a slave owner in a different state. She had the moxy to become a public figure and talk about injustice against women and African-American slaves. In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, no one had ever heard of a woman slave taking a stand to control her and her family’s life. Sojourner Truth was before her time.

And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and woman who bore him. Man, where is your part? But the women are coming up blessed be God and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between-a hawk and a buzzard.”( 7) Not only did she give speeches but also during the civil war she also, “...put her reputation to work during the Civil War, helping to recruit black troops for the Union Army.”(4) She later again moved on, this time she got to meet the president and talk to him about her beliefs/experiences. In the end Truth died accomplishing so much. Truth is a catalyst for change based on the quote” Truth is remembered as one of the foremost leaders of the abolition movement and an early advocate of women’s rights. Although she began her career as an abolitionist, the reform, property rights and universal suffrage. Abolition was one of the few causes that Truth was able to realized during her lifetime. Her fear that abolitionism would falter before achieving equality for women proved prophetic. The constitutional Amendment barring suffrage discrimination based on sec was not ratified until 1920, nearly for decades after Sojourner Truth’s death.”(4) Truth was an amazing women who will and is always a catalyst for change no matter what someone says about her,

Sojourner Truth once declared, at the Women’s Rights Convention in 1851, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again” (“Sojourner Truth” Encyclopedia). This statement brought a wave of protest from the men in the crowd and left most women with renewed hope for receiving equal rights. Sojourner Truth was a woman’s rights activist and African American abolitionist, on top of being a freed slave. Sojourner Truth had the “worst of both worlds” being that she was African American, and also a woman. She spoke at a countless amount of conventions, largely inspired by Lucrietta Mott. Rather than using weapons, Truth

     Sojourner Truth is well known for her famous "ain't I a Woman?" speech at the 1851 women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Their Sojourner Truth spoke of the injustices of our society, within which women as well as Black-Americans were at the back end. No formal record of the speech exists, but Frances Gage, an abolitionist and president of the Convention, recounted the speech.

She was well aware that she could not speak to slaves and expect a revolution. Unlike most other abolitionists, Sojourner spoke almost exclusively to white crowds. She was confident, one of personal presence, thus she aimed directly for the heart of the problem, which worked almost strategically to bring attention to the problem from those who had not experienced it (Stowe n.p.)(Sojourner n.p.). Sojourner was deeply connected to her religion, which was profoundly ingrained in the culture of the U.S. around The Second Great Awakening and the time following. Having had deep, passionate religious roots from her childhood, her audiences connected to her performances of pure truth (Truth n.p.). Her mother, lovingly Mau-Mau Bett, taught them of God, the only being who could protect her family parted by slavery and their treacherous state (Gilbert 4). This made her all the more popular among people because of how she used the widely beloved gospel in her efforts (Bernard 129). Because of her illiteracy and her powerful presence, Truth often campaigned through speech, which could reach any gender, class, or race (Bernard 129) (Stowe n.p.). Thus, opening her audience to anyone who would listen, a valuable facet to have in her campaigns in a time of inumerous large movements. She not only spoke to many types of people from across

Sojourner Truth was a 80-year old woman who had gone through a lot. She opens up her speech with real-life situations and informs us that all her hard work had never been rewarded. Sojourner is seeking justice for all colored women and hopes that by the end of the speech others will join in on the cause. Being close to the end of her life, she hopes to leave it with a positive impact and message. She begins to compare and contrast how women are working the same jobs as men but are getting payed as much, in order to show that women's suffrage is necessary.

This is when she met and fell in love with another slave from another farm that was named Robert. The two had a daughter, Diana. Robert 's owner did not agree with their relationship, since Diana and any subsequent children produced by the union would be the property of John Dumont rather than himself, so he forced them to end it. Robert and Belle never saw each other again. Years later, Dumont convinced Truth to marry an older slave named Thomas. She then had a son, Peter, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophia by Thomas. (https://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284)

Sojourner Truth, the writer of An Account of an Experience with Discrimination and speaker of Ain’t I a Women and Speech at New York City Convention, faced many difficulties and oppressive times in her life. She went through several different owners and homes. When Truth got older, she had at least five kids, most of which were sold into slavery, with a slave named Thomas. Truth was granted freedom after the 1828 mandatory emancipation of slaves in New York and finally was emancipated. She began preaching on the streets about her religious life. Truth changed her name from Isabella Van Wagener to Sojourner Truth because she wanted to “sojourn” the land and tell God’s “truth.” She moved to Northampton, Massachusetts to become apart of the abolitionist movement. During this time, the Civil War was occurring. The North was opposed to slavery and the South was for slavery. Truth addressed women’s rights repeatedly. She pointed out that the meetings about women’s suffrage were racially segregated. Truth gave many public speeches throughout Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas. Truth used an approach when giving speeches called rhetorical strategy. She was extremely opinionated and pointed out a good argument about slaves creating the country and receiving no credit for it. She also made a good point when talking about women’s rights: “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world