Primary sourceBook1850
Narrative of Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth · 1850
A dictated autobiography of Sojourner Truth, published in 1850, describing her enslavement, escape, and court fight for her son.
This dictated autobiography is Truth's own account of her enslavement, escape, and fight to free her son.
About this source
What it is
This book is a narrative of the life of Sojourner Truth, published in 1850. Because Truth could not read or write, she dictated her story to Olive Gilbert, who wrote it down for publication.
Why it matters
This narrative is the main source historians use for Truth's early life as an enslaved woman in Ulster County, New York, her escape, and her legal battle to recover her son. It shows both her own memory of events and the role Gilbert played in shaping how that memory reached readers.
Look closer
- Why might Truth have chosen to dictate her story rather than write it herself?
- How might having another person write down your words change how your story is told?
- What does the preface suggest about how the author wanted readers to feel about slavery?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sojourner Truth on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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