Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in the late 18th century in New York and experienced a difficult childhood being sold several times. She escaped slavery with her daughter and advocated for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. Her most famous speech "Ain't I a Woman" was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention, where she powerfully argued that women deserved equal rights and challenged the notion that women were weak and subordinate. Sojourner Truth spent her life fighting for the rights of both slaves and women and became a renowned speaker on these issues until her death in 1883.

1. Sojourner Truth
A Woman's Rights Speaker- a former slave
Grace Toloczko
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2. Introduction
"Ain't I a woman?" These were the words that Sojourner Truth spoke in 1951 at the
Ohio Woman's Rights Convention. Sojourner fought for woman's rights and against slavery.
Even though a man had the same job as a woman, men were often payed more. Sojourner
helped to gain more rights for woman and slaves.
Life as a Child
Truth was born into James and Elizabeth Baumfree some time around 1797 in
Swartekill, New York (because she was a slave her exact birthdate was not recorded). Life as a
child was not easy for Sojourner Truth (at that time called Isabella Baufree). Colonel
Hardenbergh, her families owner, died and the ownership of the Baumfree's was passed
down to his son, Charles Hardenbergh. When Charles Hardenbergh died in 1806 the
Baumfree's were separated. Isabella was sold at the age of 9 for $100 along with a pack of
sheep to John Neely, who was a harsh owner. Isabella was sold two other times in her
childhood life as an adult
Around 1815 Sojourner fell in love with a slave in a neighboring farm named Robert,
they had a child named Diana. Robert's owner forbade the relationship and they never saw
each other again. In 1817 John Dumont, Sojourners owner at the time asked Sojourner to
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3. marry a slave named Thomas. They had 3 children: Peter, Elizabeth, and Sophia. Once she
was sure John would not sell any of her children, Sojourner escaped with her daughter
Sophia and left her other two behind. Sojourner soon figured out that Peter was illegally sold
to a man in Alabama, she quickly took the issue to court and made sure that he was returned
to the south. This was one of the first times a black woman took a issue to court against a
white man and won the trial.
Peter and Sojourner moved to New York City in 1893, there she worked as a
housekeeper for Elijah Pierson, who was a Christian evangelist (a person that converted
people to the Christian faith). In 1839 Peter took a job on a wailing ship. When the ship
returned in 1842, Peter was not on the boat, Truth never saw him again.
Where History Begins
On June 1, 1843 Isabella changed her name to Sojourner Truth, devoting her life to
Methodism and the abolition of slavery. In 1844 sojourner joined the Northampton
Association of Education and Industry in Northampton. The organization supported
woman's rights and pacifism. There Truth met William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass
and David Ruggles. In 1846 Northampton disbanded. William Lloyd Garrison published her
memoirs in 1850 because Sojourner could not read or write. That year Sojourner spoke at the
first National Women's Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sojourner Truth
began speaking to large crowds about human rights and slavery.
In May of 1851, Truth spoke at the Ohio Woman's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio
Her speech would be later called "Ain't I a Woman?" This speech was one of her most famous
speeches ever spoken. After she gave that speech she became more famous, she attracted
more people to her speeches. She sought for woman to be treated equal. Sojourner helped
recruit black men for the union army, during the Civil War. In 1864 she was called to
WashingtonD.C to help the National Freedman's Relief Association. On one special occasion
Sojourner Truth spoke to Abraham Lincoln about her beliefs and experience. In 1865 Truth
she tired to stop desegregation on the street by riding in a car designated for whites.
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4. Sojourner also tried to cure land grant from the government for former slaves, but she was
unable to persuade congress. Truth also did many other things to help salves and women. In
Sojourner's honor a statue of was made for her on October 4, 2002.
Conclusion
Sojourner Truth died at Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 26, 1883. Truth help
woman gain more rights and because of that, it impacted many peoples lives. Today most
woman are payed the equal amount of money as a man, and there is not as much slavery
today as there was back then.
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5. "Ain't a Woman?"
Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I
think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about
rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over
ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over
mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm!
I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't
I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear
the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold
off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And
ain't I a woman?
Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of
audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. 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?
Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men,
'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ
come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all
alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again!
And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.
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