Sojourner Truth

Born Into Slavery Her real name was actually Isabella Baumfree. Her parents had her in Ulster County, New York when they were working for the Baumfree Family ?(hence her last name). She didn’t know when her birthday was or even what year she was born. All she knows was she was old enough to be emancipated in 1817.

Her New Family While working for the Dumont family Isabella married a fellow Slave named Thomas. They had 5 children.New York emancipated all slaves over forty so Isabella ran away And started working for the Van Wageners. While working for the Van Wageners she discovered her son was illegaly sold into Slavery and she sued the Dumonts in 1827 and won custody of Peter. This was the first time an African American won a case Against a white person involving slavery.

The Holy Spirit Isabella joined a Methodist church and became very religious. She claimed that the Holy Spirit told her to become a travelling Preacher. She proceeded to do so and changed her name to Sojourner Truth. Sojourner meaning traveler and truth meaning She was to tell the truth of the evils of slavery. She became a Part of many abolitionist groups and helped many freed slaves Find homes and jobs.

“Ain’t I A Woman?” Sojourner became a well known public speaker for women’s Rights. She then gave her famous “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech In a women’s rights convention. Her speech was to help explain That women were the equals of men and deserved equal rights.

Goodbye to Sojourner :( Sojourner Truth Died on November 26th 1883 in Battle Creek Michigan. She died of infected leg ulcers. Her tombtone has “Is God Dead” written on it. This was a remark she made to Frederick Douglas in an abolitionist meeting. Although she didNot make equal rights for men women and African Americans, She did inspire it in later years.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Library.thinkquest.org/j /sojourner_truth.htm books.google.com/books?id=PlWY5ZTY7aUC&pg=PA46&lpg= PA46&dq=impact+of+sojourner+truth's+aint+i+a+woman&source =bl&ots=NCvfE0hExR&sig=dZ75up6QAavlOb-_JaCBucODiO8& hl=en&ei=crnZS6X9LcP38Aadtt1k&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct= result&resnum=8&ved=0CCUQ6AEwBw Womenhistory.about.com/od/sojourner.truth.bio.htm Narrative of Sojourner Truth: Dover Thrift Editions