Sojourner Truth's Methodist Conversion - Timeline Event
Time Period
1843
Description
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was an escaped female slave who created a unique legacy of social activism in the United States. While abolitionism and women’s rights were often discussed separately, Truth advocated both issues and highlighted how they combined to create unique realities themselves (Ain’t I a Woman? [1851]).
Truth’s lifelong efforts toward social equality were strongly influenced by her Methodist conversion in 1843. Her name at the time was Isabella Baumfree, but she changed it to Sojourner Truth on June 1 following her conversion. "The Spirit calls me, and I must go," she said as she decided to become an itinerant Methodist preacher and advocate the freedom of slaves. For Truth, her quest for equality was a calling from God and her conversion was the beginning of a lifelong dedication toward social activism.
Truth’s lifelong efforts toward social equality were strongly influenced by her Methodist conversion in 1843. Her name at the time was Isabella Baumfree, but she changed it to Sojourner Truth on June 1 following her conversion. "The Spirit calls me, and I must go," she said as she decided to become an itinerant Methodist preacher and advocate the freedom of slaves. For Truth, her quest for equality was a calling from God and her conversion was the beginning of a lifelong dedication toward social activism.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Methodist/Pietist Family: Other ARDA LinksMethodist/Pietist Family: Religious Family Tree
Related Dictionary Terms
Methodist-Pietist FamilyPhotographs
Sojourner Truth portrait- Library of Congress, The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana
Sojourner Truth with President Lincoln- Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-16225
Sojourner Truth portrait- Hathi Trust- from Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Olive Gilbert
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Sojourner Truth monument, cropped- Flickr- photo by Battle Creek CVB (CC BY 2.0)
Book/Journal Source(s)
McCleary, Paul, 2015. Reform Movements in Methodism Brought on By Societal Issues, 1830-1885 Xlibris Corporation.Web Source(s)
https://www.pbs.org/thisfarbyfaith/people/sojourner_truth.htmlSojourner Truth's "God in America" Biography
Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
