author

Sojourner Truth

1797–1883

Born into slavery in New York, she became one of the most powerful voices for abolition and women’s rights in 19th-century America. Her life joined fierce public speaking, deep religious faith, and a lifelong fight for freedom and dignity.

1 Audiobook

The Narrative of Sojourner Truth

The Narrative of Sojourner Truth

by Olive Gilbert, Sojourner Truth

About the author

Born Isabella Baumfree in New York around 1797, Sojourner Truth was enslaved for much of her early life before escaping with her infant daughter in 1826. After New York ended slavery, she successfully went to court to recover her young son, making her one of the first Black women in the United States known to win such a case against a white man.

In 1843, she took the name Sojourner Truth and devoted herself to traveling and speaking about abolition, religion, and justice. She became widely known for her powerful presence as an orator and for her work alongside other reformers who were pressing for the end of slavery and for women’s rights.

During and after the Civil War, she continued to advocate for Black Americans, including efforts connected to freedom, employment, and land. Today she is remembered as a fearless speaker whose life and words helped shape the struggle for equality in the United States.