Sojourner Truth

Personal Statement: My name is Sojourner Truth but I was born as Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. I did not go to school because I was a slave for the first 29 years of my life so i did not know how to read or write. I spoke only Dutch until the 9th year of my life. I ran away from slavery a year before it was abolished in the state of New York in 1827. I later won a court case against a white man in order to get my son out of slavery in Alabama, where he was severely abused by his owner. I was the first woman to go to court against a white man and win a court case. I also fought for women's rights and even spoke at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention where I gave my “Ain’t I a Woman” speech. In June of 1843 I changed my name to Sojourner Truth and became a Methodist. I spent the rest of my life traveling and preaching about the abolition of slavery and women’s rights.

Issue: From the day I was born I was a slave, both my parents and all of my siblings were also slaves, which made me have strong feelings against slavery. As a 9 year old I was sold from one slave owner to another along with a flock of sheep for $100. I was abused and mistreated by my owners on a daily basis and they even forced me to marry and have kids with another one of their slaves that way they could keep my offspring as property. Although I ran away from it I still believe that slavery is wrong, it lets whites and men with power treat others horribly and use them for your own profit just because of their skin color.

Solution: I ran away from slavery after 29 years of being abused and taken advantage of. A year later I found that one of children was illegally sold to a slave owner in Alabama. I knew the treatment of slaves down there was a lot harsher so I was willing to do anything to get him out of there and freed. I went to court and won the case and got my son back. It was the first time a judge made a decision in favoring the African American over a white man. I believe that slavery should be abolished, and that state and federal authorities should see their wrongdoing and end it altogether. I wasn't successful at ending slavery but I sure did contribute all the efforts I could make to get the word out through my speeches and the court case. I also met President Lincoln during the Civil War and discussed the enlistment of blacks in the army.

Relationship to others: I spoke about abolition, women's rights, prison reform, and preached to the Michigan Legislature against capital punishment. Not everyone welcomed my preaching and lectures, but I had many friends and staunch support among many influential people at this 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.