Who was Sojourner Truth?
Sojourner Truth was an African American evangelist, abolitionist, women’s rights, and human rights activist born into slavery before escaping to freedom in 1826. After gaining her freedom, Truth preached about abolitionism and equal rights for all. She became known for a speech with the famous refrain, "Ain't I a Woman" that she was said to have delivered at a women's convention in Ohio in 1851, although accounts of that speech (and whether Truth ever used that refrain) have since been challenged by historians. Truth continued her crusade throughout her adult life, earning an audience with President Abraham Lincoln and becoming one of the voices who led the way for Civil War and influenced Lincoln's emancipation.
History
Born into slavery in or around 1797 in the Hudson Valley, Sojourner Truth was a true leader well ahead of her time. In 1826, after her final enslaver reneged on a promise to free her family, Sojourner, with her infant daughter in her arms, fled 5 miles to the home of The Van Wagenen’s, Northern ideal supporters. Meanwhile, her son Peter was sold into slavery in Alabama. The sale occurred during the phase-out of slavery in New York, where Peter would have been an indentured servant until he was older. The sale of Peter to another state was illegal. Faced with the prospect of never seeing him again, Sojourner went to court in Kingston to get him back. With the assistance of the Van Wagenen’s and a few lawyers that shared her faith, Sojourner took the action to court. A grand jury proceeding was enough to prompt the man who sold Peter to have him sent back to New York. With a long court process awaiting, Sojourner submitted an application for a writ of habeas corpus that led to Peter’s return. A Supreme Court Commissioner, acting with the powers of a judge, ordered Peter’s freedom on March 15, 1828. At the time, and currently, it is the only known case in American history of a black woman successfully suing a white man in such a manner. Sojourners reunion with Peter proved to be bittersweet. Peter’s body showed evidence of beatings and it took the traumatized child time to accept his mother.
As the years continued, the children grew with Sojourner. In 1829, Sojourner moved her family to New York City, hoping for better opportunities. Peter, now a full-grown adult, left for a whaling ship. Sojourner stayed and continued to work with her two daughters. In her narrative, she said it was the last time she would see Peter. In 1843, she said she received a visit from the holy spirit, which prompted her to change her name to Sojourner Truth. After realizing her purpose, and the city life affecting her, Sojourner took the road as an itinerant preacher. In 1870, Truth purchased her first property in Northampton, MA. While in Washington, D.C., she met with President Ulysses S. Grant in the White House to push for more land and grant opportunities for formerly enslaved people and pursued the endeavor for almost 7 years with minimal success. In 1872, she returned to Battle Creek and became active in Grant’s presidential re-election campaign, and even tried to vote on Election Day, but was turned away at the polling place. Determined, Sojourner continued her work, and in 1879, when a large migration of freed southern slaves made their way west, despite her advanced age, Truth traveled to Kansas to help them get settled. Sojourner would speak about abolition, women’s rights, and prison reform, and preached to the Michigan Legislature against capital punishment. Sojourner had many friends and staunch support among many influential people at the time, including Amy Post, Parker Pillsbury, Frances Gage, Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, Laura Smith Haviland, Lucretia Mott, Ellen G. White, and Susan B. Anthony.