Sojourner Truth was an ex-slave and fiery abolitionist. She was also a riveting preacher and spellbinding singer who dazzled listeners with her wit and originality. She was a domestic cleaner by day and a lay Methodist preacher by night. When she gave speeches in public she not only spoke she sang. She was a very intelligent woman despite her illiteracy. She was a tall woman, about 5 feet 11 inches. She had an extremely low voice almost like a man but she had a beautifully powerful singing voice. She was born into slavery as Isabella Van Wagenen in Ulster County in Hurley, New York in 1797. She was one of 13 children but she never got to know her brothers and sisters because they were all quickly sold as slaves as soon as they were old enough. Her master was Mr. Dumont and he arranged for her to marry a slave named Thomas. They had 5 children together, but some of them were sold. After this she was released following the New York Anti Slavery Law of 1827. However slavery was not abolished nationwide for 35 years. She lived with a Quaker family who gave her the only education she ever received. They also helped her get back one of her sold children.
After this she became an outspoken advocate of women's rights as well as blacks' rights. In 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth. She was a very persuasive talker and she actively supported the Black troops during their Civil War and helped get the government to give these soldiers land. She continued traveling throughout the whole northeast and midwest from her home in Battle Creek, Michigan where she died at the age of 86 in 1883. She contributed a lot to the fight against slavery. She gave many persuasive speeches to people including President Abraham Lincoln.
She joined and led many slave helping organizations including the National Freedman's Relief Association. She had a very important part in this organization. It was focused on helping freed slaves get on their feet to start a new free life. Another similar organization she had a big part in was the Federal Freedman's Bureau. Both of these organizations gave vital assistance to freed slaves. She also gave was a very religious woman. She was involved in many religious cults such as a group known as the Millerites. These people believed that Biblical prophecy indicated that the world would end in 1843.
After the biblical prophecy was proved wrong in 1844 she moved on and joined another group called the Northampton Association. It was through this organization that she was to broaden her scope from religious matters to encompass social reform. She also met Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison in this organization. When the Northampton Association broke up in 1846 she joined up with the Seventh Day Adventists. This is where she fought for women's rights and slavery. She had very many admirable characteristics including her courage. She was very courageous in her fight for freedom and her fight for women's rights. She was also very admirable in her service. She devoted her whole life to helping improve women's rights and helping free slaves. She helped free hundreds maybe even thousands of captive slaves.
Without her assistance and guidance this struggle for women's rights and slavery probably wouldn't have succeeded as well as it did. So overall, Sojourner Truth was a freed black slave whose life was completely devoted to helping free slaves and improve women's rights. She changed the lives of thousands. This struggle wouldn't have been possible without her.
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