ecollections of her experience as a child growing up in slavery, which were not limited to sexual abuse, whippings and beatings, but also contradicted the southern belief that slaves were satisfied with their condition and could not be self-sufficient or independent. From the revenue she acquired from her autobiography, Truth was able to purchase a home in Cattle Creek, Michigan.
After her memoir was published, she continued to make her voice heard by delivering speeches at several events across the nation. She made sure that people were aware of the hardships she endured as a slave leading up to her eventual freedom, but what made her speeches so effective and inspiring was her use of reason and religion, opposed to aggression and violence that was seen from other abolitionists. While touring she realized women did not have the right to vote or hold official political positions. In other words, it dawned on her that not only was she being oppressed because of the color of her skin, but she was also being struck down for her gender, both of which were far from a just reason. Because of this, she scolded and reminded her fellow advocates that women – both black and white – should not be forgotten, as they too did not have political standing or rights. Still other civil rights activists believed her to be too controversial and did not head her warnings. But Sojourner would not stop at antislavery reform and women’s rights, she also fought to repeal capital punishment. She even took her case to the Michigan state legislature to voice her opinions on the practice of the death sentence.
In October of 1851, Truth delivered her famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. The purpose of her speech was to persuade her audience that women – especially black women are equal to men and deserve equal rights. She effectively does this by using several rhetorical devices, such as repetition. Her repetition of the phrase “ain’t I a woman” did not limitedly convey her pent-up frustration, but also contradicts arguments made by others. For example, in her speech she addresses the belief that women should be pampered and babied by sharing her experiences as a woman of color. By doing this she challenges and questions the belief as she was not spoiled or especially take care of because of her skin color, despite her gender.
Truth did allow this to slow her down as she continued to travel and spread awareness of abolitionism and women’s rights. With all the recognition she accumulated, she set out to recruit black troops for the union army. This was due to increased tensions and sectionalism between the northern and southern regions. In regard to notablebiographies.com, even Sojourner’s grandson, James Caldwell, enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Eventually she was granted permission to serve in a hospital as counselor for the Freedman’s Relief Association, where she sought to improve living conditions for African-Americans. She achieved this by helping ex-slaves build new lives for themselves. In October of that year, she met Abraham Lincoln and spoke to him about her religious beliefs, experiences as a slave and as an African-American woman.
Sojourner continued to fight for her and other people’s rights after the Emancipation Proclamation that passed on September 22, 1863. She did so by riding in vehicles that were built solely for whites. Although her arm had been dislocated by a conductor who would not allow her to ride in a trolley, she won the right for African-Americans to share trollies or streetcars with whites. She also argued that in order for former slaves to be independent, they needed to be able to own property. As a result she created a program to help create jobs and careers for poverty stricken African-Americans after the war. Despite her efforts, no action was taken by government officials.
Although truth had much more that she wanted and could accomplish, she fell ill and was forced to return to Battle Creek, Michigan. Sojourner Truth died in her home on November 26, 1883 and was buried