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Early Life
Isabella Baumfree who is historically known as Sojourner Truth was borin in Ulster County in New York to enslaved parents named James and Elizabeth. When Sojourner was only nine years old she was sold with a flock of sheep to John Neely. By the time she was 18, she married and had five children. This event may have influenced Sojourner because she wouldn't want her children to have to go through the same things she did as a black woman at this time. -
Becoming Free
Sojourner Truth's owner had told her that he would allow her to have her freedom but never kept his word. This made Sojourner get up and escape on her own, but this caused her to leave her other children and only escape with her daughter. I can only imagine that having her daughter during this unbelievable difficult time pushed Truth to be an even stronger woman and set an example to her daughter and other women going through very similar situations. -
Becoming an Influencer
Truth later on joins an abolitionist organization that used be called the "Northampton Association of Education and Industry." Another very well known activist Frederick Douglas was apart of this organization.This is very important as she surrounds herself around others who dedicate their time to make a difference for black people everywhere, this may have encourage her to use her story as a tool to advocate for her people. -
Famous Speech
Truth gives her "Aint't I A Woman" speech in Ohio at a Womens Rights Convention. Truth effectively used her platform to speak for black women all over the country who were both enslaved and free because they had all been through something unimaginably painful and hard. -
References
History.com Editors. (2021, May 25). Sojourner Truth. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sojourner-truth