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The Abolitionists: Sojourner Truth
Synopsis: Sojourner Truth was an African-American leader. She fought against slavery. Slavery
is an awful part of American history. Millions of African-Americans were owned by other
people. They were forced to work for white Americans. Truth was born a slave around 1797 and
escaped to freedom in 1826. She fought for equal rights for African- Americans and women.
A Life of Slavery
Sojourner Truth was born with the name Isabella Baumfree around 1797. Her mother and father
were both slaves. The Baumfrees were owned by a white family in New York.
The Baumfree family was separated in 1806. When she was 9 years old, Truth was sold with
some sheep for $100. She was sold twice more over the next two years. She finally came to live
on the property of John Dumont in New York. There, Truth fell in love with a slave named
Robert. He lived on a nearby farm. The two had a daughter named Diana. Robert's owner did not
allow him to be with Truth. In 1817, Dumont forced Truth to marry an older slave named
Thomas. They had two sons and two daughters together.
Early Years of Freedom
In late 1826, Truth escaped. She was free. The next year, New York freed all the slaves in the
state.
In 1843, she started going by the name Sojourner Truth. She dedicated her life to Christianity
and fighting slavery. In 1844, she joined an antislavery group. The group also supported
women's rights.
In 1850, Truth published a book about her life. It was called The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A
Northern Slave. Truth started traveling the country giving talks. She spoke about slavery and
equal rights.
In 1851, Truth spoke at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. Her famous speech was called
"Ain't I a Woman?" It was printed in many newspapers.
Advocacy During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Truth met with then-President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. She
told him about her ideas and her life.
Lincoln freed all the country's slaves in 1863. Truth kept fighting for their rights. She tried to
help freed slaves get land from the government. She said that owning land would help AfricanAmericans be successful.
Death and Legacy
As she grew older, Truth continued to give speeches. She talked about equal rights and fairness.
She died at her home in Michigan in 1883.
Truth is remembered as one of the leaders of efforts against slavery and an early supporter of
women's rights.
Writing Activity
Pick a detail from this article. Explain how it helps you
understand the bigger ideas in the article. Write out your answer.
Multiple Choice Questions
1.Which question is answered in paragraph 3 of “Early Years Of Freedom”?
A.
B.
C.
D.
What was Truth’s childhood like?
How did Truth spread her ideas?
What are women's rights?
Where did Truth travel in the U.S.?
2.Which selection from the section "Advocacy During The Civil War" explains why Truth
wanted freed slaves to have land?
A. During the Civil War, Truth met with then-President of the United States, Abraham
Lincoln.
B. Lincoln freed all the country's slaves in 1863. Truth kept fighting for their rights.
C. She tried to help freed slaves get land from the government.
D. She said that owning land would help African-Americans be successful.
3.Which sentence from the last two sections of the biography describes the main idea of the
biography?
A. During the Civil War, Truth met with then-President of the United States, Abraham
Lincoln.
B. Lincoln freed all the country's slaves in 1863.
C. As she grew older, Truth continued to give speeches.
D. Truth is remembered as one of the leaders of efforts against slavery and an early
supporter of women's rights.
4.What is the main idea of the section "A Life Of Slavery"?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Truth lived as a slave for the first half of her life.
Truth was born with the name Isabella Baumfree.
Truth fell in love with a slave who she was not allowed to marry.
Truth eventually had four children with an older slave.