Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Sojourner Truth lived many roles during her lifetime (1797-1883). She was a slave, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a civil rights activist, a teacher, and a preacher. She lived each role courageously with the same three characteristics guiding her path: love for God, family, and her community. It was these character traits that set her on the zealous path to seeing African American lives changed, beginning with her own, then her children’s, then her community.
Sojourner Truth’s biography is replete with images that stick in a reader’s memory, but the one that she is most well-known for is a four letter sentence that brings Sojourner’s voice to life: “Ain’t I a woman?” Women’s rights and African American rights are synonymous when one thinks of Sojourner Truth. Yet, what exactly did she do?
Readers are often at a loss to answer this question when it comes to this particular Preacher and Activist. Where did she preach? How did she acquire her freedom? How did she help her people? What kind of Activist activities did she participate in? Answers to these questions and more will be brought to light in a series of Mock Interviews with Sojourner Truth, in hopes she will become to you more than in an image on a computer screen because her Legacy to America deserves more than a four word sentence.
I knew Sojourner Truth was a slave, wife, mother, and civil rights activist, but I didn’t know she was also a teacher and preacher. How interesting!
Thanks for your comment, Priscilla! Sojourner was an amazing woman, with an amazing testimony of God delivering her from a bad situation. She often said throughout her biography that when the Lord told her to do something, she took it as truth, and obeyed. It was how she was successful in fighting court battles in early 1800’s as a Black Woman. She credits God with all her success and provision. Very inspiring testimony. I highly recommend getting a copy of her autobiography.