Sojourner Truth

c. 1797 – 26 November 1883

Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-1883) was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist who was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree and escaped to freedom in 1826. She became a celebrated itinerant preacher and orator, best known for the speech delivered at the 1851 Ohio Women's Rights Convention later remembered as 'Ain't I a Woman?'. During and after the Civil War she worked to recruit Black troops and to aid freed people.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Sojourner Truth.

Life events

Born into slavery in Swartekill, New York
c. 1797

Isabella Baumfree was born enslaved in the Dutch-speaking community of Swartekill in Ulster County, New York; her exact birth date was never recorded.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Escaped from slavery with her infant daughter
1826

Isabella walked away from her enslaver John Dumont with her baby daughter Sophia and found refuge with the Van Wagenen family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won a court case to recover her son Peter
1828

She successfully sued to recover her son, who had been illegally sold into slavery in Alabama, becoming one of the first Black women to win such a case against a white man.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took the name Sojourner Truth and became an itinerant preacher
1 June 1843

Declaring that the Spirit called her to travel and testify, Isabella Baumfree renamed herself Sojourner Truth and began preaching across the Northeast.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Published The Narrative of Sojourner Truth
1850

Her memoir, dictated to Olive Gilbert, was published with the help of William Lloyd Garrison and provided her with income from sales.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Delivered the 'Ain't I a Woman?' speech in Akron, Ohio
29 May 1851

At the Ohio Women's Rights Convention, Truth gave an extemporaneous speech on racial and gender equality that became one of the most famous in American history.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved to Battle Creek, Michigan
1857

Truth settled in the Battle Creek area of Michigan, which remained her home base for the rest of her life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Met President Abraham Lincoln at the White House
29 October 1864

Truth was received by President Lincoln in Washington, where she was working with the National Freedman's Relief Association to aid formerly enslaved people.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Battle Creek, Michigan
26 November 1883

Sojourner Truth died at her home in Battle Creek and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓