Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-November 26, 1883) was the self-given
name, from 1843, of Isabella Baumfree, an American abolitionist and
women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill,
New York. Her best-known speech, which became known as Ain't I a
Woman? was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention
in Akron, Ohio.
During the Civil War Sojourner Truth raised food and clothing
contributions for black regiments, and met Abraham Lincoln at the
White House in 1864. While there, she tried to challenge the
discrimination that segregated street cars by race. After the War
ended, Sojourner Truth again spoke widely, advocating for some time
a "Negro State" in the west. She spoke mainly to white audiences,
and mostly on religion, "Negro" and women's rights, and on
temperance, though immediately after the Civil War she tried to
organize efforts to provide jobs for black refugees from the
war.
Active until 1875, when her grandson and companion fell ill,
Sojourner Truth returned to Michigan where she died in 1883 and was
buried in Battle Creek, Michigan.
