Sojourner Truth
Billy Foshay, Jeremy Picard, Jake Buccarelli
Early Life
Born in Ulcer County NY
around 1797
Named Isabella
Baumfree
One of thirteen children
Sold away from her
family at the age of 9
Sold a total of four times
Biographical continued
Married an older slave named Thomas
Had four children (Peter, James, Elizabeth, Sophia)
1799 NY began gradual abolition of slaves
Sojourner escaped at dawn, with her infant daughter Sophia
Inspired to preach, changed her name to sojourner
Joined association, Anti-Slavery, religiously tolerant, woman’s rights
1850 published narrative
1854, made “Ain’t I a woman?” speech at Ohio convention
“I DID NOT RUN OFF, FOR I THOUGHT THAT
WICKED, BUT I WALKED OFF, BELIEVING THAT TO
BE ALL RIGHT”
“Ain’t I a Woman?”
“...That man over there says that women need to be helped
into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best
place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or
over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a
woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and
planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head
me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as
much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as
well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children,
and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out
with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't
I a woman?...”
Later Life
Joined several groups against slavery and for
woman’s rights
Met president Lincoln
Continued to help soldiers after civil war
Helped fight for free slaves in the west
Died from ulcers November 26, 1883 (83)
Abolitionists Movement
a political and social movement
to end slavery
gained support that slavery was
morally wrong after American
Revolution
well known supporters
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Paine
Marquis de Lafayette
Papers such as north star
published by Fredrick Douglas
Women’s Rights Movement
The movement toward equal
freedom and rights for women
Woman began fighting for equality
with men
Many groups for:
Higher education
Property rights
Custody rights
Voting rights
Contributions
Northampton Association of Education and Industry
The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave
Ohio Convention “Ain’t I woman” speech
Progressive Friends
Worked during civil war to support abolition
The Freedman’s Relief Association
Campaigned for free land in west for slaves
Spoke in white and black churches
Effects of Contributions
Helped woman’s rights and abolitionists
groups develop
Gave woman a voice through speeches and
books
Proved Women could do man’s job
Freed Slaves began to move west and
north
Recognition
Memorial Stone in Monument
Park
National Women’s Hall Of
Fame
1986 Postage stamp
Sojourner Truth Memorial
Highway (Michigan)
Historical Grave Marker