“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.” Best known for her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech, Isabella Baumfree, otherwise known as Sojourner Truth, was an abolitionist as well as a women’s rights activist. After escaping slavery with her youngest child, Sophia, she devoted her life to advocating for African-American and women’s rights. Although she was never formally educated, she rose to be one of the most inspiring promoters for human rights.
Isabella Baumfree was born in Ulster County, New York in approximately 1797. Her exact date of birth was not recorded; this was not unusual for children born into slavery. According to Biography.com, Truth was of the youngest of twelve children of James and Elizabeth, Mau-Mau Bett, Baumfree. Her family was owned by Colonel Hardenbergh and lived on his plantation in Espouse, New York. It should be noted that the area was once under Dutch control, resulting in Truth’s first language being Dutch. After the Colonel passed away, ownership of the Baumfrees was passed onto his son, Charles Hardenbergh. However, after Charles’ death, the Baumfree family was split up. Truth was sold at the age of nine at an auction along with a flock of sheep for a mere hundred dollars. In 1808, Truth was sold to Martinus Schryver. She would be sold once more two years later, eventually landing under the ownership of John Dumont in West Park, New York. Because her native tongue was Dutch and slave holders did not care to educate their workers, Truth did not understand what was being spoken to her when her owners spoke in English. On account of this, she was often punished with beatings. For this reason and others, she learned to speak English.
At the age of 24, Truth had a romantic relationship with a slave named Robert, who lived on another plantation, with whom she wished to marry. Together they even had a daughter named Diana. Even so, Robert’s owner forbade the relationship because any children that Truth were to bare would be under the ownership of John Dumont, Truth’s owner, not his own. As a result, Dumont forced Truth into marrying a man named Thomas from another plantation, three years after her unsuccessful relationship with Robert. She bore three of Thomas’ children. Their names were Peter, Elizabeth, and Sophia.
In 1817, New York, as well as other northern states, began debating the abolition of slavery. Ultimately, New York would emancipate all slaves born before July 4, 1799 on July 4, 1827. Dumont promised Sojourner he would give provide her with her freedom one year before the abolition of slavery in New York. When Dumont did not fulfill this promise, Truth escaped with her youngest child, Sophia, leaving her husband and other children behind. Several drastic changes took place in her life consecutively after her escape. For one, it was during this time that Truth found asylum with Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen. The Van Wagenen’s purchased Sojourner from John Dumont and provided her with her freedom. Secondly, Truth would find herself deeply connected to her religion, which would later be the cause for her motivation in fighting for the rights she deserved. Shortly after her escape, Sojourner realized her five-year-old son, Peter, had been illegally sold to a southern man in Alabama. Consequently, Truth sued John Dumont for illegally selling her son into slavery. Ergo, in 1828, Truth was the first black women to successfully challenge a white man in court with such a case. This case would be a turning point in history because of all the challenges Sojourner was to face in order to win the trail.
After winning the case, Sojourner and her son moved to New York City, where she would work for two men consecutively. Truth worked as a housekeeper for the first man, Elijah Pierson, a Christian evangelist, who later died of poisoning. The second man, Robert Mathews, who was also a religious leader known as Prophe