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Early Life of Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth who was born as Isabella Baumfree in 1979 was a slave to James and Elizabeth Baumfree. At the age of nine, she was sold off about 3 times until she would end up to her new master John Dumont. While being his slave, she fell in love with another slave who was under a different master. Instead, she would marry Thomas, another slave of Dumont and have five children later on. (History.com Editors, 2009) She will be soon be turned into a abolitionist and female activist. -
1. The Road to Freedom
With his unfulfilled words of freedom, Truth ran away from Dumont before she founded by Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen For $20, the Van Wagenens bought Isabella from Dumont. When the law passed in New York to emancipate all slaves, Dumont illegally sold Truth’s son Peter. The Van Wagenens helped Isabella sue Dumont, to which she would be the first black woman to sue a white man and win the case.(History.com Editors, 2009) This is indeed a powerful and inspiring case for all those who had lost hope. -
2. Her Bibliography
Though she was not able to read and write, with the help of Olive Gilbert, Sojourner Truth was able to publish a novel about herself. She then meets the women’s rights activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. (History.com Editors, 2009)
This is an important face about her because this would be her start of being a female activist. -
3. Ain't I a Woman?
Her most iconic abolitionist speech was Ain’t I A Woman? given during the Women's Rights Convention at Old Stone Church in Akron, Ohio. She continued to fight and advocate for African Americans and women. Unfortunately, there are many different versions of her speech which we are unable to locate the original. (U.S National Park Services, 2017) As a female Asian-American, I can say that her speech has empowered colored women like me today to go above and beyond. -
4. Women for Voting
In the year of 1872, Truth was turned away from voting in Battle Creek, Michigan. Her and the many other women fought for their rights to vote. About 15 women were arrested for illegally voting. (Women Suffrage Timeline)
As a woman of this time, I am grateful for these women who have fought continuously to give me the rights I have to do. Though they weren’t successful, they didn’t continue to give up. At their time, it was only the beginning. Today, we continue to fight for their legacy! -
Her Death
Truth fought until the very end of her death. She never once refused to give up the things she would fighting for. Her legacy along with many other women would go on. As many people of color come together today to fight for what is right, we will not stop until everything comes to an end. -
Reference
History.com Editors. (2009, October 29). Sojourner Truth. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sojourner-truth
Sojourner Truth: Ain't I A Woman? (U.S. National Park Service). (2017, November 17). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.nps.gov/articles/sojourner-truth.htm
Woman Suffrage Timeline (1840-1920). (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/woman-suffrage-timeline-18401920