Known for her resilience, courage, and unwavering faith, Sojourner Truth, born as Isabella, is perhaps one of the most notable freedom fighters of the 19th century. Despite her relevance and popularity within the struggle for freedom, her narrative is not exempt from the mythologizing that happens often to many other freedom fighters of her time. A woman, a slave, poor, illiterate, and black; much of Sojourner’s life is undocumented. While the rare documentations of her life reveal little about her the trials leading to her freedom in 1827, and that of her children later on.
Entangled in her freedom from slavery, was her freedom of expression, her freedom of speech. A crucial part of her work as she often spoke at conferences concerning abolition and feminism. Offering a sharp critique of race and gender, in 1851 Sojourner delivered her inspiring and groundbreaking “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at a Women’s Convention in Ohio. Sojourner’s critiques of both gender and race relations have influenced countless feminists of color. Including poet and author bell hooks as she writes Ain’t I a Woman?: Black women and feminism. The influence, Sojourner’s courage, resilience, and fire live on today as Black Women and Women of Color around the world continue the struggle for freedom, equality, and respect.
