Sojourner Truth — A 19th-Century Symbol of Strength and Hope
Sojourner Truth’s extraordinary courage, tireless activism, and faith in truth gave her a powerful voice for anti-slavery and women’s rights movements in the United States. This is her story.
A former slave, Sojourner Truth, was an outspoken advocate for civil and women’s rights in the 19th century.
Her story is that of incredible courage and determination. She was bought and sold several times and was often separated from her loved ones and explicitly prevented from pursuing new relationships.
Her tireless efforts for abolishing slavery, women’s rights, and her role during the civil war have earned her many honors, including an invitation to meet President Abraham Lincoln.
Sojourner Truth’s story
Sojourner, formerly Isabella, was born to slave parents James and Elizabeth Baumfree in 1797 in Dutch-speaking Ulster County, New York.
She was one of 10 to 12 children, most of whom were sold to slavery when Isabella was only an infant. As a young child, Isabella witnessed both her parents’ death — which was caused by severe infection and illness and unforgiving hard labor.
