The electrifying speeches of Sojourner Truth - Daina Ramey Berry

In early 1828, Sojourner Truth approached
the Grand Jury of Kingston, New York.

She had no experience with the legal
system, no money,

and no power in the eyes of the court.

Ignoring the jury’s scorn,

Truth she said she was there to fight for
custody of her five-year-old son Peter,

who’d been illegally sold to
an enslaver in Alabama.

As the trial played out over the next
several months,

Truth raised funds, strategized with
lawyers, and held her faith.

Finally in the spring of 1828, Peter was
returned to her care –

but Truth’s work was far from over.

She would dedicate the rest of her
life to pursuing justice

and spiritual understanding.

Truth was born into slavery as Isabella
Baumfree in the late eighteenth century

in Ulster County, New York.

Although New York state had announced
the abolition of slavery in 1799,

the emancipation act was gradual.

Those who were currently enslaved

were forced to serve a period of
indentured servitude until their mid-20s.

Throughout this period, enslavers
repeatedly sold Baumfree,

tearing her from her loved ones.

Often, she was explicitly prevented from
pursuing new relationships.

Eventually, she married an enslaved man
named Thomas,

with whom she had three children.

She was desperate to keep her new family
together –

but the slow progress of abolition
threatened this hope.

Baumfree’s enslaver, John Dumont, had
promised to free her by 1826.

When he failed to keep his word, Baumfree
fled for her safety.

During the escape, she was only able
to rescue her youngest daughter Sophia,

while her other children
remained in bondage.

It would be two years before she
regained custody of Peter.

After that, she would wait another
two years

before she saw any of her other children.

During this time, Baumfree found solace
in her faith

and became increasingly dedicated to
religious reflection.

After settling in Kingston, New York,

she joined a Methodist community
that shared her political views.

She continued her practice of speaking
aloud to God in private,

and one night, her evening prayers took
on even more sacred significance.

Baumfree claimed to hear the voice of
God, telling her to leave Kingston,

and share her holy message with others.

Though she never learned to read or write,

Baumfree became known as an
electrifying orator,

whose speeches drew on Biblical
references,

spiritual ideals, her experience
of slavery.

Her sermons denounced the oppression
of African Americans and women in general,

and became prominent in campaigns for
both abolition and women’s rights.

In 1843, she renamed herself
Sojourner Truth

and embarked on a legendary
speaking tour.

Truth saw her journey as a
mission from God.

Her faith often led her to the nation’s
most hostile regions,

where she spoke to bigoted audiences
as the only Black woman in the crowd.

Truth was confident God would protect her,

but some crowds responded to her bravery
with violence.

During one of her sermons, a mob of white
men

threatened to set fire to the tent
where she was speaking.

In her memoir, Truth recalled steeling
herself to confront them:

“Have I not faith enough to go out
and quell that mob…

I felt as if I had three hearts!

And that they were so large, my body could
hardly hold them!”

She placated the men with song and prayer,
until they had no desire to harm her.

Truth’s speeches impacted thousands of
people in communities across the nation,

but her activism went far beyond
public speaking.

During the Civil War, she became involved
with the Union Army,

recruiting soldiers and organizing
supplies for Black troops.

Her work was so well regarded that she
was invited to meet President Lincoln.

She took the occasion to argue that all
formerly enslaved people

should be granted land by the government.

Truth continued to travel and
speak well into her 80’s.

Until her death in 1883, she remained
an outspoken critic

who fought for her right to be heard
in a hostile world.

As Truth once said, “I feel safe even
in the midst of my enemies;

for the truth is powerful
and will prevail."