Sojourner Truth

The Narrative of Sojourner Truth

Written in 1850, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth is the autobiography of American abolitionist and women's rights activist SOJOURNER TRUTH (1797-1883). Born into slavery, Truth begins with her earliest recollections as a child living with other slaves in the lower floor of her master's home. She details her living conditions, her family, and the trials of her life that began at the age of nine, when she was sold to a family in Ulster county New York. From an early age, Truth had developed a strong faith in God, and she returns constantly to this faith throughout her narrative. All she has to turn to during the many sufferings discussed throughout this book is that faith. Despite the fact that she never learned to read, she engaged in religious study whenever possible, having scripture read to her by children who would not offer their own interpretations. As a freedom fighter after the New York State Emancipation Act, Truth was accomplished enough to have published this work a year before she delivered her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the 1851 Ohio Women's Rights Convention, which cemented her legend.