Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree into slavery in Swartekill, New York, U.S.
She named herself Sojourner Truth after she said she was called on by God to go to the countryside and “testifying the hope that was in her”.
Truth was able to escape slavery at the age of 29 with her infant daughter in 1826. But had to leave her other children because they were not legally freed in the emancipation.
Sojourner returned and got her other children after taking the slaveowner to court. She was the first Black woman to win such a legal battle against a white man.
In 1843, the abolitionist began traveling and preaching about the abolition of slavery. This is when she told her friends the iconic line “The Spirit calls me, and I must go”.
During Truth’s traveling, she gave many speeches. One well-known speech being “Ain’t I a Woman”. This speech she advocated equal rights for women as well as all Black people.
In 1864, Sojourner began working at the National Freedman’s Relief Association in Washington, D.C to change the living conditions of African-Americans.
After she passed away in 1883. She was later inducted into National Women Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.
In 2016, the U.S Treasury Department announced that Truth’s image will be on the back of new $10 bills which will be unveiled in 2020.
Last year, 2017, Rutgers University renamed its College Avenue Apartments to the Sojourner Truth Apartments to honor her.
