Death day of Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
November 26

Born in upstate New York, Isabella Baumfree, later known as Sojourner Truth, was a trailblazer in the abolitionist and suffragist movements, becoming a major figure in African-American history.

Following a revelation in 1843, Sojourner Truth wrote and spoke out fearlessly on behalf of civil and human rights. An eloquent preacher, she credited her Christian faith for her courage and her refusal to despair. Her memoirs, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, describe her challenges as a slave sold to her first master at age 11 and then to two succeeding masters. She offered practical and untiring help to freed slaves following the Civil War. After hearing her speak in 1881, Frances Gage remarked, “I have never in my life seen anything like the magical influence that subdued the mobbish spirit of the day, and turned the sneers and jeers of an excited crowd into notes of respect and admiration.”

To read more about Sojourner Truth's accomplishments and explore further links, see the Women in History webpage.

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