Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue, Esopus

What it is

This bronze statue stands in a memorial park in the Town of Esopus, Ulster County, New York — the place where Sojourner Truth was born. It was made by sculptor Trina Greene and shows a young girl in a simple dress, barefoot, holding a jug and a small round object.

Why it matters

The statue is a modern tribute, not an object from Truth's own lifetime. It shows how later generations remember her early life before she became known as an abolitionist and activist, by imagining her as a child in the place she grew up.

Look closer

• Why might the sculptor have chosen to show Truth as a young girl rather than as an adult speaker?
• What does the memorial park setting tell us about how a community wants to be remembered?
• What is missing from this image that we would need other sources to learn?