Journey Toward Freedom: The Story of Sojourner Truth

by Jacqueline Bernard, Nell Irvin Painter (Introduction)

Born a slave in 1797, Sojourner Truth eventually gained her freedom and became known for her wit, her songs, and her great common sense. She electrified audiences as she championed civil rights, women’s rights, prison reform, and better working conditions.

In the New York Times Book Review , Richard Ellman “Quietly factual when it suits her story, but lyrical when the demand arises, Jacqueline Bernard has succeeded on nearly every account. A good popular history.”

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

moving story but I didn't like that it was written by someone else. I felt the writer moralized in a way I didn't think was appropriate

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly everyone I know has heard of Sojourner Truth. Most, including myself, have no clear idea of who she was, what she stood for, and what she accomplished in her amazing life.

Sojourner Truth's dictated book: The Narrative of Sojourner Truth is a moving story of Sojourner's (Isabella Baumfree's) early and middle life. It tells about her life as a slave, her separation from her family, her efforts to gain her freedom, her early religious experiences, and the beginnings of her journey traveling around New England giving speeches praising god and fighting against slavery.

However, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth leaves off before the bulk of her national work began - working with the Women's Suffrage and Abolitionist Movements. So, I set out to find another book to learn more about this remarkable woman.

What I found were dozens of children's and young adult books about her life. Jacqueline Bernard's adult book is one of the few I found that filled in some of the gaps of The Narrative of Sojourner Truth and continued on to detail her crusade against slavery and her efforts to help those slaves who had recently gained their freedom.

Sojourner Truth started life as an abused slave. She went on to become a leading figure in the movements for the fight to end slavery, the rights of women, and the efforts to get the recently freed slaves the education and land they needed. Sojourner never backed down, she never lost her faith, and she never accepted that there wasn't more to be done to make this a better country for all.

Please read this book - you will be horrified by history you may not have been taught, impressed by the strength of this woman, and inspired to work toward humans rights and dignity for all Americans.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1967 and based on extensive primary research, Jacqueline Bernard's widely praised biography of the remarkable woman known as Sojourner Truth is an important historical document, as compassionately told as it is engrossing to read. In the New York Times Book Review, Richard Ellman wrote: "Quietly factual when it suits her story, but lyrical when the demand arises, Jacqueline Bernard has succeeded on nearly every account. A good popular history." Truth was born a slave in 1797, gained her freedom some 30 years later, and at the age of 46 began a new life, traveling the country to preach about God and crusade against slavery. Known for her wit, her songs, and her great common sense, she electrified audiences as she championed women's rights, prison reform, and better working conditions.

[Jasanna Czellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very intriguing book. I'd heard of Sojourner but didn't know much about her personal life. While the author does take quite a few liberties in the conversation of the characters, and I don't know if that's good/bad, I do feel like the author did her best to tell the story of a very proactive and faithful woman. It captured my attention and I devoured this book. I came to really love Sojourner and her blunt personality. This book would be a good read during such a divisive time in our country.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting biography, I learned a lot. With some research of my own, I found that a few things were glossed over or left out. However, it’s a good start to knowing about Sojourner Truth.

[Taylor]

she is being beaten every day for something she has not done right. she is repeating how hard it was i learned being a slave is no walk in the park. she is talking about how much she misses her mother.