Early Years
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery and escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After gaining her freedom, she devoted her life to the abolition of slavery and the fight for racial equality. She was an active participant in the Underground Railroad, helping many slaves to freedom. She also worked with several anti-slavery organizations and was a fervent advocate for the use of nonviolent civil disobedience.
Sojourner Truth successfully sued her former slave master for her son’s freedom, making her the first African American woman to win a lawsuit against a white man. In her later years, she was a vocal advocate for the rights of Native Americans and she was a major influence in the early feminist movement.
Career
Sojourner Truth was a prominent abolitionist. She was born into slavery and escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After gaining her freedom, she devoted her life to the abolition of slavery and the fight for racial equality. She was an active participant in the Underground Railroad, helping many slaves to freedom. She also worked with several anti-slavery organizations and was a fervent advocate for the use of nonviolent civil disobedience.
Ain’t I a Woman
Sojourner Truth’s 1851 speech, Ain’t I a Woman, became an iconic rallying cry for women’s rights and racial equality. She delivered the speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention and it quickly gained popularity. She used the speech to challenge the notion that women were not as strong or intelligent as men. She argued that women deserved the same rights, respect, and opportunities as men and that African Americans deserved the same rights and respect as whites. The speech remains an enduring symbol of the power of women to fight for equality and justice.
Accomplishments
Sojourner Truth's accomplishments include:
- Successfully suing her former slave master for her son’s freedom
- An active participant in the Underground Railroad
- Delivering her iconic "Ain't I a Woman" speech
- A major influence in the early feminist movement
- Vocal advocate for the rights of Native Americans
