Sojourner Truth

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Sojourner Truth lived a long and productive life. She met spoke to and for many important people along her journey such as congressmen and two presidents. Truth had a quick wit about her and was noted for her powerful presence and powerful speaking ability. She never learned to read or write but has been remembered for her moving speeches about black freedom and women's rights. Truth developed herself to become a strong and devoted supporter of women's rights which assisted with teaching future societies that we must look beyond individual differences and find ways to relate and treat each other with mutual respect; that we need to create a future that is more just and equal also known as a non-violent world.

Sojourner Truth was born with the name Isabella Baumfree around the years 1795-1798 in Ulster County in southeast New York. She was one of ten or twelve children and the daughter of James Baumfree "Bomefree" and Elizabeth "Mau-Mau Bett." She had several owners who, for the most part, treated her poorly until she decided one morning upon waking to take her son and walk away towards freedom. This was one of the initial steps of courage Truth portrayed in her courageous journey to assert her basic human rights. From this point on Truth was never afraid to challenge established power.

In 1843, Truth began her long career as an activist and a traveling preacher speaking the truth about religion. In her speeches and sermons she fought for abolition of slavery and women's rights. After the Civil War she even tried to persuade the government to repay former enslaved Africans with free land. Truth portrayed herself as a compelling speaker who profoundly moved those who heard her. She had a love for

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freedom and could easily convert others to feel the same love. Truth also believed she had a direct communication with God. At one point in her life she sensed that God told her to preach, to share the importance of women's rights and abolitionism and to tell the truth about the Holy Spirit. She did this by speaking to her audiences about the evils of slavery and the importance of women in society. The best remembered speech she gave was the one in 1851 in Akron, Ohio, when she spoke in front of an audience who were less than polite to her.

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