Sojourner Truth, American Abolitionist

Sojourner Truth wearing polka dotted dress and holding cased photograph of her grandson, who was a prisoner-of-war at James Island, South Carolina between 1863 and 1865. Sojourner Truth (1797 - November 26, 1883) was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son in 1828, she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. She gave herself the name Sojourner Truth in 1843 after she became convinced that God had called her to leave the city and go into the countryside testifying the hope that was in her. During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army; after the war, she tried unsuccessfully to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves. Truth spoke about abolition, women's rights, prison reform, and preached to the Michigan Legislature against capital punishment. Not everyone welcomed her preaching and lectures, but she had many friends and staunch support among many influential people at the time. She died in 1883 at the age of 86

Picture No

12695690

Media ID

47680147

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2997px x 4650px (4.3MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans

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