Difference between revisions of "Sojourner Truth" - New World Encyclopedia
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[[image:Sojourner_Truth_2.jpg|thumb|200px|Sojourner Truth]] | [[image:Sojourner_Truth_2.jpg|thumb|200px|Sojourner Truth]] | ||
| − | '''Sojourner Truth''' ([[circa|c.]] [[1797]]–[[1883]]) was the | + | '''Sojourner Truth''' ([[circa|c.]] [[1797]]–[[1883]]) was the name, received from revelation, in |
| + | [[1843]] Most famous [[United States|American]] [[abolitionist]], she was a self proclaimed Evangelist | ||
| + | & which compelled her to work for reformation, & liberty. | ||
| + | She had the misfortune to be born into [[slavery]] as both her parents were slaves. Sojourner was born, it is said, in Hurley, New York. (Her original name was '''Isabella Baumfree''', but some sources list her legal name as '''Isabella Van Wagener'''.)which would have been her name given by the slave owner, in fact, the first language she learned & spoke was Dutch. | ||
| + | Her childhood was one of suffering,as a slave, there was much abuse & mistreatment.As a slave, with no rights, she was not able to stay with her family, but had to endure & persevere at the hands of many "masters". | ||
| + | From a very young age,Isabella, took comfort in the voices she heard, that gave her solace in early life, as well as the visions she received. | ||
| + | In fact, the very reason she changed her name was due to instruction she received, that she attributed to the voice of God, & changed her name to Sojourner Truth. | ||
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| + | |||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| − | The year of her birth is uncertain, but is usually taken to be in 1797. | + | The year of her birth is uncertain, but is usually taken to be in 1797. |
| + | |||
| + | During the years 1810 thruogh 1827, seventeen long years, Sojouner had no choice,forced to have five children while in slavery with another slave named Thomas Jeffery Harvey. Her youngest child was named Sophie, with whom she fled, finally ending up in Canada in [[1827]]. | ||
| − | + | Due to [[New York]] state abolishing slavery, she returned there in [[1829]]. Fortunately, for her, Isaac Van Wagener, much to his credit, & Sojourner's relief, she was rescued by Van Wagner, & liberated, for the first time in her life, she was free. | |
| + | Knowing that her freedom was one in which her destiny | ||
| + | or calling motivated her to work together with Quaker | ||
| + | friends, she fought hard doing battle with the court | ||
| + | & was thereby able to win the freedom of her young son, illegally sold into slavery down South. | ||
| + | She worked as a domestic servant for over a decade and joining Elijah Pierson in evangelical preaching on street-corners. | ||
Later in life she became a noted speaker for both the [[Abolitionist]] movement and the [[women's rights]] movement. Truth's most famous speech, "[[Ar'n't I a Woman?|Ain't I a Woman?]]," is a short but well pointed commentary. | Later in life she became a noted speaker for both the [[Abolitionist]] movement and the [[women's rights]] movement. Truth's most famous speech, "[[Ar'n't I a Woman?|Ain't I a Woman?]]," is a short but well pointed commentary. | ||
Revision as of 20:58, 23 August 2006
Sojourner Truth (c. 1797–1883) was the name, received from revelation, in 1843 Most famous American abolitionist, she was a self proclaimed Evangelist & which compelled her to work for reformation, & liberty. She had the misfortune to be born into slavery as both her parents were slaves. Sojourner was born, it is said, in Hurley, New York. (Her original name was Isabella Baumfree, but some sources list her legal name as Isabella Van Wagener.)which would have been her name given by the slave owner, in fact, the first language she learned & spoke was Dutch. Her childhood was one of suffering,as a slave, there was much abuse & mistreatment.As a slave, with no rights, she was not able to stay with her family, but had to endure & persevere at the hands of many "masters". From a very young age,Isabella, took comfort in the voices she heard, that gave her solace in early life, as well as the visions she received. In fact, the very reason she changed her name was due to instruction she received, that she attributed to the voice of God, & changed her name to Sojourner Truth.
Life
The year of her birth is uncertain, but is usually taken to be in 1797.
During the years 1810 thruogh 1827, seventeen long years, Sojouner had no choice,forced to have five children while in slavery with another slave named Thomas Jeffery Harvey. Her youngest child was named Sophie, with whom she fled, finally ending up in Canada in 1827.
Due to New York state abolishing slavery, she returned there in 1829. Fortunately, for her, Isaac Van Wagener, much to his credit, & Sojourner's relief, she was rescued by Van Wagner, & liberated, for the first time in her life, she was free. Knowing that her freedom was one in which her destiny or calling motivated her to work together with Quaker friends, she fought hard doing battle with the court & was thereby able to win the freedom of her young son, illegally sold into slavery down South. She worked as a domestic servant for over a decade and joining Elijah Pierson in evangelical preaching on street-corners.
Later in life she became a noted speaker for both the Abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement. Truth's most famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman?," is a short but well pointed commentary.
In 1841, she went to Northampton, Massachusetts to join an utopian community, the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. When the association disbanded in 1846, she remained in Florence, Massachusetts, where she worked with a neighbor, Olive Gilbert, to produce a biography in 1850 known as the Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave.
In 1857, Truth moved to Michigan, where she continued her advocacy. During the American Civil War, she organized collection of supplies for the Union, and moved to Washington, D.C. after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, to work with former slaves. She also met President Abraham Lincoln.
She returned to Michigan in 1867 and died at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 26, 1883. She is purported to have said towards the end, "I'm goin' home like a shootin' star." She is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek. In 1983, she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
"Truth, Sojourner." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 22 Aug. 2006
http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9073571?query=Sojourner%20Truth&ct=eb#cite
1867 speech delivered May 1867
http://www.pacifict.com/ron/Sojourner.html
They talk about this thing in the head; what do they call it? ["Intellect," whispered someone nearby.] That's it. What's that got to do with women's rights or Negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full? (Singer, 1975, taken from Tanner, 1970)
In 1997 the NASA Mars Pathfinder mission's robotic rover was named "Sojourner" after Sojourner Truth. [1]
In 2004, renowned author Bennett Golder wrote "The Truth About Sojourner Truth" a biographical account about the lies surrounding the life of Sojourner Truth.
External links
- Works by Sojourner Truth. Project Gutenberg
- On the trail of Sojourner Truth
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