Sojourner Truth: The Life and Legacy of the Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist

Introduction 

Sojourner Truth served as a women right’s activist in the American history, an author and an abolitionist who championed African American interests (Naranch, 2016). He was born in 1826, in the New York state, Swartekill, Ulster County. Truth’s parents were James and Bomefree James who had borne 12 children. Her parents were slaves in the family of Colonel Hardenbergh who lived in the modern day Rifton New York. As Painter (1990) explains, her parent’s slave master Hardenbergh had acquired his father’s vast estate in the town of Esopus and was engaged in the slave business, acquiring slaves as his property. Sojourner Truth contributed significantly in advocating for women and civil rights as well as abolition of slave trade thus, is highly regarded in the history of United States. 

Background and Incidents that took place, key individuals involved 

Truth grew in a background where slavery was rife. She led a miserable life under the bondage of servitude serving slavery masters in New York prior to her escape to freedom in 1826. Sojourner Truth parents were also slaves in Ulster County. After attaining the age of nine, Truth was traded and sold to John Neely at a slave auction for exchange with a flock of sheep and $100 (Painter, 1990). Her new master, Neely, exhibited cruelty towards the young girl through regular beatings. Truth was later resold twice at the age of 13 and ultimately found herself in West Part at the hands of John Dumont and his wife Elizabeth. At 18 years, Truth befriended another slave named Robert who worked at a neighbourhood farm. Robert and Truth were however barred from marrying since both were under different slave masters. Sojourner Truth could only get married to a slave owned by John Dumont (Murphy, 2011). She was forced to wed a slave called Thomas, who offered slavery services to her Owner. Truth and Thomas bore five children. John Dumont promised Sojourner Truth that he would release her on July 4 th 1986 only if she vowed allegiance and remained loyal to him, a promise that John reneged (Painter, 1990). Incensed, Truth felt that she had been faithful to her owner and resorted to escape with her infant daughter, leaving all her other children behind since they were all legally bound to her slave master. Her escape led her to the hands of Isaac and Maria Van who housed Truth and her daughter in their New Paltz home, New York. According to Painter (1990), after John Dumont became cognizant that Isaac and Maria Van had taken Truth, he went to claim his “property” after which they consented on deal to purchase Sojourner Truth services for $20. The agreement was to last until legislation of antislavery law in New York took effect in 1827. 

In 1826, Sojourner Truth migrated along with Peter to New York where she worked for a Christian Evangelist as a housekeeper. She met John Street was a grocer in New York who alleged to have served as a slave to Georg Washington. Sojourner Truth and John Street friendship became closely knit. Both had common interests in helping the impoverished populations (Murphy, 2011). In 1832, Sojourner Truth met and started working for Robert Matthews as a housekeeper in Matthias kingdom. 

Accomplishments 

One of her major successes was the winning of a court case against a white slave master. After escaping from John Dumont, Truth became aware that her son Peter had been traded as a slave to a master in Alabama. With the assistance of Van Wagenens, she fronted a legal suit to have Peter returned to her. A month after the suit, she successfully regained her son’s custody, making her the first black woman to file and win a case in the United States judicial history (Murphy, 2011). Her spiritual calling emboldened her to successfully speak against slave business in the United States. She became a devoted Christian and embarked on a journey to evangelize and win converts. She made great strides in speaking against oppression and servitude. She was successful in leading the abolitionist movement and spearheading of women rights (Lipscomb, 1995). In her life time, Sojourner Truth witnessed fruition of her efforts once slave trade was lifted through a legislation, thereby bringing slave trade to a permanent end. 

Importance in the Context of US History 

Her importance in the history of the United States is exemplified in 19 th amendment ratified in 1920, a legislation that made it lawful for women to vote. The cause was one of the agendas championed by Sojourner Truth. She remains in the United States history archives for the recognition of women right’s to vote during elections. Although the legislation was enacted long after her demise, Sojourner Truth long struggle led to elimination of inequality orchestrated against women. 

Her advocacy made significant strides during civil war. Sojourner Truth took part in hiring black men to join the Army and help strengthen the abolitionist movement. For example, she advised her son to enlist in the Massachusetts platoon force. During civil war insurgency in the US, she solicited supplies inform of food, clothes and other amenities for blacks in refugee camps (Naranch, 2016). Once the civil war halted, Sojourner Truth endeavoured to secure freed blacks employment to emancipate them from adversity. 

She fiercely fought for change from the status quo where blacks were segregated in various dimensions for example, the restriction that blacks could not ride in white designated vehicles. To agitate for change, Truth made attempts to break segregation of street cars by boarding and travelling in cars meant for whites. 

Truth played an instrumental role in forcing the federal government grant land to former slaves. After legislation of the anti-slavery law, former slaves were left without land implying that they could not settle or build homes. Truth pushed the congress to pass a law on private property ownership to free the African Americans from the servitude exhibited by opulent land owners. Sojourner Truth despite her unrelenting endeavours to convince the congress was unable to have the legislation passed (Murphy, 2011). Truth pushed prison reforms in the United States. She for example passionately opposed capital punishment when she gave an attestation against the practice before the state legislature in Michigan. 

She is highly regarded in the US history due to the abolition of slavery and slave trade against African American. Her name is remembered from the women rights movement used by Sojourner Truth as a means to fighting servitude. Prior to the civil war, Truth teamed with other women and drafted a series of measures and strategies to convince leaders to impose a permanent ban on slavery in the United States (Naranch, 2016). Her role on the Abolitionist Movement carried valuable importance in American history. 

How Sojourner Truth changed the lives of African American and women’s rights 

Truth actively participated in abolitionist circles and sought recognition of women political equality in the United States. Truth proactively rebuked the abolitionist movement for their inaction in seeking civil entitlements to women as had been done to men. As Brezina (2005) explain, she was open in expressing dissatisfaction for alienation of white and black women who had been denied political rights and suffrage. The subject of women rights was dear to Truth which made her to passionately speak about universal suffrage. She used her body to challenge the sexist and dehumanizing racists remarks directed to black women (Lipscomb, 1995). She constructed her body in a way that opposed the cultural understandings of women. Black women were perceived as different from white women, a discourse that Truth stood against. 

Truth’s authored and delivered speeches for example True to Womanhood and Ain’t I a Woman , a writings that championed female political entitlements and equality ( Truth, 1856) . She gave ain’t I a Woman speech in Ohio during a conference convened in 1851 by women. Through her speech, Truth campaigned for equal rights among black and white women and discouraged the discrimination faced by black females (Brezina, 2005). 

Impact in the lives of people who are underrepresented 

Sojourner Truth impact can be felt today by groups such as women and black community which were under represented and discriminated against. Women in the United States enjoy civil, cultural and political entitlements as a result of the fierce campaigns initiated by civil rights activists such as Sojourner Truth. As Naranch (2016) explains, the right of women to vote, obtain gainful employment and receive education have been realized from the efforts demonstrated by Truth. As an impact triggered by Sojourner Truth, women discrimination was lifted through legislations such as the 19 th amendment. As an impact from Truth activism, the 19 th Amendment was enacted to the United States Constitution barring the federal government and respective states from restriction of suffrage rights to citizens based on Sex (Naranch, 2016). The August 18 th ratification can be attributed to Sojourner Truth due to his agitation, protest and long struggle for equality in respect to African women right to vote. The black underrepresented cohorts in the USA live in a slavery free country due to the efforts staged by Sojourner Truth. The impact is characterized by freedom from forced labour and white supremacists violence. 

Women in the United States and the rest of the World now live in a world that is almost free from female oppression and segregation. The abolitionist movement led by activists such as Truth led to mainstreaming of women issues and inclusion of women rights in for example United Nations Declarations. According to Mandziuk and Fitch (2001), through the activism led by Sojourner Truth, gender sensitive solutions and redress have been provided. Today, violence and discrimination against black women is framed as infringement of right to life. The under-represented groups in the United States now have the entitlement to equal protection, freedom of expression and the right to vote, all which were contested by activists such as Sojourner Truth. 

Conclusion 

Sojourner Truth played an instrumental role in the abolitionist movement consequently leading to lifting of slavery and recognition of women rights. She strongly advocated for the need to allow women to vote, an effort that came to fruition when the 19 th amendment was enacted. She unwaveringly fought for black and women rights, a move that was essential for realization of equality between white and African Americans. In the United States History, Sojourner Truth is revered for her significant contribution in advocating women rights, equal treatment and in abolition of slave trade. She is remembered for her active role during the Civil war, for example in helping recruit black men to join the Amy and in rallying for food, clothes and other supplies. She had the passion to emancipate the less privileged from poverty and oppression in an attempt to improve their wellbeing. The United States remembers her as an avid human right activist and an ardent female abolitionist. 

References 

Brezina, C. (2005).  Sojourner Truth's" ain't I a woman?" speech: A primary source investigation . The Rosen Publishing Group. 

Lipscomb, D. R. (1995). Sojourner Truth: A Practical Public Discourse.  Reclaiming rhetorica: Women in the rhetorical tradition , 227-245. 

Mandziuk, R. M., & Fitch, S. P. (2001). The rhetorical construction of Sojourner Truth.  Southern Journal of Communication ,  66 (2), 120-138. 

Murphy, L. G. (2011).  Sojourner Truth: A Biography . ABC-CLIO. 

Naranch, L. E. (2016). Sojourner Truth: abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, preacher, and former slave. Truth was a forceful, visible presence in public life in the nineteenth century. Venerated as an icon of determination fighting for freedom and remembered as a strong black woman, Truth could nei.  Fifty-One Key Feminist Thinkers , 227. 

Painter, N. I. (1990). Sojourner Truth in life and memory: Writing the biography of an American exotic.  Gender and History ,  2 (1), 3-17. 

Truth, S (1856). “Ain’t I a Woman?” https://teacher.depaul.edu/Documents/Interpret-Aint-I-a-Woman.pdf .