Jackson Creek Middle School
American Heroes: Sojourner Truth
Freedom
During her journey, Sojourner stayed with a Quaker family. The Van Wagener's offered for Sojourner and her baby to stay and eat in their house. In return, Sojourner had to do a couple of small chores a day. The second day Sojourner and Sophia were at the Van Wagener's, Dumont came looking for his runaway slave. When Dumont saw Sojourner there, he demanded that she come back home with him. The Van Wagener's enjoyed having Sojourner and Sophia at their house that they bought Sojourner for $20 and Sophia for $5. After Dumont left, the Van Wagener's freed Sojourner and Sophia. Even though she was free, she stayed with the Van Wagener's through the winter.
During that winter, Mr. Van Wagener told Sojourner that Peter had been sold to a wealthy Alabama plantation. This was very bad news because Alabama was a "slave for life" state. Sojourner was so mad about this sale that she took it to court. She went to court to gain custody of Peter. She won her case and Peter came and lived with his mom and sister at the Van Wagener's house.
Soon after this event, Sojourner moved her family to Kingston. While in Kingston, Sojourner got a job at a linen factory. Peter stayed in Kingston with his mom, but Sophia went and lived with Diana, Hannah, and Elizabeth who still lived on the Dumont's farm.
On July 4, 1828, Tom was set free. Since he and Sojourner did not live near each other, they grew apart. Tom never really got his life back on track and he grew sick and died before the year was over.
One day, Sojourner got horrible news that Eliza Fowler, the Van Wagener's cousin, had been beaten to death by her husband. This was very hard for both Sojourner and Peter because Eliza had helped Peter heal his wounds after he had been beaten.
Sojourner wanted more then ever to bring all her children back together. So, they left Kingston and went back to live with the Van Wagener's for a bit. While she lived with the Van Wagener's, she and the Dumont's became friends again. She would go and visit her daughters all the time.
Sojourner followed her dream and got all her children together again. It did not last long. Peter never fully recovered emotionally.
In 1843, Sojourner told everyone that God told her to change her name from Isabella Van Wager to Sojourner Truth. She said He told her to pick this name because Sojourner means traveler and she traveled around spreading the truth about slavery. During the Civil War she sang and raised money for black soldiers.
All through her life, Sojourner was an abolitionist against slavery. She spoke in front of Congress and two presidents. The speech she is best remembered for is a speech she gave at a women's rights conference She decided to speak because she noticed that no one was addressing black women.
"Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped over carriages, and lifted ober dicthes and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody eber helps me into carriages, or ober muddpuddles, or bigs me any best place. And ain't I a woman? Look at me Looka at me arm. I have ploughes and planted and gathered into barns, and no mand could head me! And ain't I a woman." (Bright Moments).
This is part of the speech she gave at a women's rights conference. She spoke at many other press conferences and political meetings. She led a very productive and successful life.
By: Alicia F.
Last updated: 01/03/02
