Sojourner Truth real name is Isabella Baumfree.
Chat with our AI personalities
Sojourner Truth's real name was Isabella Baumfree. She changed her name to Sojourner Truth in 1843 after experiencing a spiritual awakening.
Sojourner Truth changed her name because she believed it was a calling from God to speak the truth on her travels. She wanted a name that reflected her mission to fight for justice and equality. "Sojourner" means traveler or someone who goes on a journey, which represented her pursuit of truth and freedom.
No, she did not. In fairness, Sojourner Truth (real name Isabella Baumfree) was alive in the early to mid-1800s, a time when few woman, black or white, attended college. In fact, only the wealthiest, elite white Christian men had the opportunity for higher education. Sojourner Truth would have been taught privately, or she would have apprenticed and learned by doing, which is how most people of that era were educated.
On June 1, 1843, she changed her name to 'Sojourner [Traveler} Truth' and told friends, "The Spirit calls me [East], and I must go. ...the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people."
Sojourner Truth met Olive Gilbert when they both worked together as domestic servants for the Dumont family in New York. Olive Gilbert later became Sojourner's literary agent and helped her write her memoir "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth."
Sojourner Truth is a hardworking, brave, strong and determined woman.