Sojourner Truth was born in 1797 in Ulster County, New York, a Dutch settlement up state.  Her mother and father was Elizabeth and James Baumfree.  Sojourner's mother gave her the name Isabella Baumfree but she was soon to be known as  Sojourner Truth.    Isabella spoke Dutch until she was sold away to Charles Hardenbergh   from her family at the age of nine.  She was forced to learn and speak English quickly.   But Isabella had her Dutch accent for the rest of  her life. 

    After Charles died in 1808, Isabella was sold to John Neely.  Because the Neely's spoke only English , Isabella was beat harshly for the frequent miscommunications of her Dutch accent.   During this time, Isabella began refuge in religion.   She began to get in the habit of praying out loud when she was scared or hurt.  Over the next seven years Isabella was sold twice.

Around 1815 Isabella  fell in love with a former slave  named Robert.   Robert's master Catlin didn't want him seeing Isabella because he didn't like his slaves having children from slaves that he did not own.   One night Robert tried to sneak and  see Isabella but was followed by his Catlin and his son.  They beat him harshly and dragged him away.  Isabella never saw Robert again.  Shortly after this incident  Isabella gave birth  to her first daughter Diana.

    In 1817, Isabella was forced to marry an older slave by the name of Thomas.  Five years later Isabella gave birth to her second child and named him Peter.  Over the next 4 to 5 years she gave birth to 3 more children, but one of them died at a young age.

    Isabella received the name Sojourner Truth on June 1, 1843, when she changed her name.  In 1850 The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave was published by William Lloyd Garrison privately.  With this accomplishment Sojourner brought home a descent income and it increased her speaking engagements.  In 1854, Sojourner gave her most famous speech " Ain't I a Woman?" at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

    In 1883 Sojourner developed ulcers on her legs.  She went and sought help from Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. Shortly after,  Sojourner returned home to be with her daughters, her daughter's husbands, and their children.  Shortly after she arrived at home, Sojourner died on November 26, 1883.   She was 86 years old. Sojourner  was buried at Oak Hill cemetery in Michigan next to her grandson.  Year's later Sojourner was honored in many ways for all the accomplishments that she had made.  Sojourner gave many women the right to speak up for themselves and ask an important question, " Ain't I a Woman? "