Sojourner Truth: The American Abolitionist and Women’s Rights Activist

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

Sojourner Truth, a prominent figure in the abolitionist and women's rights movements, hailed from the United States. Born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, she bravely escaped bondage in 1826, carrying her infant daughter to freedom. Notably, in 1828, Truth achieved a historic milestone by winning a legal case against a white man to regain custody of her son, marking her as the first black woman to achieve such a victory.


Feeling a divine calling to spread hope beyond the confines of urban life, Truth adopted the name 'Sojourner Truth' in 1843, symbolizing her journey of faith and activism. One of her most renowned moments came during the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. Her impactful speech, known as 'Ain't I a Woman?' gained widespread acclaim during the Civil War era, despite being later rewritten in a Southern dialect, contrasting Truth's New York origins where Dutch was her first language.


Throughout the Civil War, Truth played a crucial role in recruiting black soldiers for the Union Army. Post-war, she fervently advocated for the fulfillment of the promised 'forty acres and a mule' land grants for formerly enslaved individuals, albeit unsuccessfully. Until her passing, Truth remained a tireless advocate for the rights of both women and African Americans, challenging prevailing societal norms. As noted by her biographer Nell Irvin Painter, Truth's legacy transcends mere historical significance, serving as a reminder that black women are an integral part of both African American and women's histories.