- Published: October 2, 2022
- Updated: October 2, 2022
- University / College: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
- Language: English
- Downloads: 8
She met many people and learned many new things from them.
She worked as a domestic servant until she got a call from God to be a speaker (Adams 33). Soon she began to travel and give very passionate speeches, covering many topics that were very important to her. She also wrote a book about her life and all of her experiences called The Narrative of Sojourner Truth (“ Sojourner”). She met many different celebrities and she impacted the entire country. Sojourner Truth’s impact shined though her speeches and punishment, and it was widespread through her life and Journeys. Sojourner Truth dealt with many hardships, beginning from birth and ending hen she was finally freed from slavery. Sojourner Truth’s birthrate is not specifically documented, because slave owners did not keep records of their slaves’ birth and death dates, but historians believe that she was born in 1797. Her birth name was Isabella Penumbrae, and she was born into slavery.
She was born in Ulster County, New York. In 1806, Sojourner Truth’s first owner died. Truth was put up for auction and was purchased by John Newly. She had three more owners over the next few years who treated her very poorly. On her third owner, she met a man named Robert, with whom she fell in love.
She wished to marry Robert, but his owner would not allow it (“ Sojourner”). John Demount bought Sojourner in 1810. She worked for him for seventeen years. Demount forced her to marry a slave from another plantation named Thomas, and they had five children together (“ Sojourner”). Eventually a couple named Maria and Isaac Van Wagner bought Sojourner Truth from Demount and granted her freedom.
The article titled “ Sojourner Truth” stated that “ as the date of her release came near, she realized that Demount was plotting to keep her enslaved” elaborating on why she left her husband and children (“ Sojourner”). When she left, she went to the cities, and her husband stayed in Ulster County, New York. Making her beliefs widely known was one of Truth’s many goals. She traveled the country to spread her thoughts and ideas. She also impacted many areas in society in her time. As soon as she was freed from slavery, she immediately started trying to free her son. A plantation owner had bought her son illegally, and she was determined to retrieve him. She sued the plantation owner in 1828.
She won the case and retrieved her son. Truth was the first black woman to win a court case against a white man(“ SoJourner”). In 1833, she moved to Sing Sing, New York and Joined a cult called the Kingdom of Matthias. It was created by Elijah Pierson and Robert Matthews.
This was a very religious group that shared her interests (“ Truth” 417). They became like a family, and she lived there for some time until the group fell apart when a murder trial surfaced. Truth was a suspect in the trial, and while there were still investigations, a white couple named the Folders accused her of trying to poison them. When she was proven innocent, she filed a law suit against the couple or slander.
She won the law suit and became the first black woman to win that type of suit against a white person (“ Sojourner”). Her victories made her well-known and appreciated. She moved to other cults as well. One was in Massachusetts.
Brian Lamb, author of Banknotes Life Stories, elaborates on the group that she was with in Massachusetts: The second commune was an industrial commune. This was in Northampton, Massachusetts the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. Here, the people were not particularly religious. They were ecumenical as far as religion goes.
But they were anti-slavery; they were for women’s rights. It was there that Sojourner Truth discovered abolition and women’s rights. She got there in 1843, in the fall or early winter…
. She only meant to stay there for the winter and then continue on her way. But she liked it and she stayed.
She outlived the commune, which fell apart in 1846. Lamb 72) This is where Truth learned about all of the topics that she spoke about. It was in the commune in Massachusetts that Sojourner Truth decided that she wanted to speak out against slavery.
Sojourner traveled all over the country and met many other very influential people. She felt as if she was suddenly called by God to speak out. In the article titled “ Truth, Sojourner”, it is stated that “ she was an effective preacher in spite of her illiteracy”, which demonstrates that she deserves equality in all aspects of life (“ Truth” 417). She began traveling in 1843. She gave many speeches throughout the country. She was very influential and strong, and she had a very distinct voice (Adams 33). Russell L.
Adams, author of Great Negroes Past and Present, stated that “ her deep, bass voice, her fierce intelligence, sense of drama, and the utter sincerity of her speeches kicky spread her fame throughout the North and astounded an unbelieving South” this low and manly voice often cause skepticism of her gender, raising questions as to whether or not she is a male (“ Sojourner”). Her strength and integrity allowed her to extinguish their accusations. She was very popular among the people. When she began speaking, all of her speeches were about slavery. She was very dramatic in her speeches. Although she could not read or write, she was extremely intelligent.
She was determined to speak her mind and spread her beliefs. Her speeches about leaver influenced many people and she earned fame and recognition from many other renowned leaders. Although, anti-slavery speeches earned her fame, she also began speaking out about women’s rights. She may have been considered a leader, but she still felt discriminated against.
She wanted women to be able to vote and choose their political officers. She also wanted women to have the right to run for office. She believed that everyone should be treated equally.
Her dream was to see a world with no discrimination (“ Sojourner”). Truth accomplished many things in her life. She made a difference in many immunities and even throughout the country with her successes in court and also in gaining fame for speaking out against slavery, which she had personally endured. She gained respect from Americans, and she was highly rewarded for being so outspoken and truthful. In 1850, Sojourner Truth wrote a book about her life, experiences, and beliefs.
It was written with the help of a woman named Olive Gilbert. Since Sojourner could not read or write, Olive Gilbert listened to Sojourner Truth’s story and wrote it all down. Together they created the book titled The Narrative of Sojourner Truth. The book contains moving stories about the struggles of African American slaves, and the tales of her fascinating life (“ Sojourner”, “ Truth” 417).
Her book was recognized and she ended up with the opportunity to meet Harriet Beechen Stows. Truth met Harriet Beechen Stows in her home in 1853. Harriet Beechen Stows eventually prefaced Sojourner Truth’s autobiography . She also painted a portrait of Truth in The Atlantic. Stows has a sculpture that she claims to have made from the inspiration of Sojourner Truth’s tales of her life. The sculpture now stands in the Smithsonian American Art Museum (“ Truth” 417). Sojourner Truth et Gerri Smith, who was a close friend of Frederick Douglass.
Smith was also a presidential candidate. Truth also met a man named Parker Pillsbury. He was an abolitionist and and minister, and he became a close friend to Sojourner Truth. Although these people are very influential and important in history, the most influential person she ever had the privilege to meet was Abraham Lincoln. In 1864, Sojourner Truth was welcomed to White House. She had attempted to visit the president prior to this date, but she was not allowed in. Finally, she set up a meeting with the president, and was welcomed into a room with about a dozen other men, here she conversed with Abraham Lincoln.