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Slavery
Isabella Bomfree, also known as "Sojourner Truth" was born into the life of slavery in 1797 in Ulster County, New York. She had to endure the harsh punishments that slaves typically endured from their owners during that time such as beatings, lashes, and difficult physical labor. This unfortunate life that Truth was born into would lead her to fight for equal rights. -
The Preacher
Sojourner Truth after having being bought by a family and earning her freedom had become a member of the church and believed that the holy spirit had chosen her to spread the "truth" which is where she had begun to call herself Sojourner Truth. She was known to be a great speaker when it came to the spreading of her messages. Working with two slave abolitionists: Williams Garrison and Frederick Douglass she spread the message of their disgust of slavery. -
Ain't I A Woman?
Sojourner Truth had gone on a tour in Ohio where a woman's rights conference was being held. During this conference, Truth had delivered her now incredibly famous "Ain't I A Woman?" speech where she challenged discrimination of gender and race. Her partner Douglass believed that the male slave's sufferage should come to an end before that of women so Truth had parted ways with him, believing that both genders equally deserve to be freed from the harsh life of slavery. -
Aid to the Union
After being an aid to slaves and helping them flee to safety from their owners, Truth became an aid to the Union during the Civil War. She had encouraged black men to join the union and help fight for their freedoms to end slavery. She would go on to help former slaves find jobs and lead a normal and successful lifestyle.