Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth - a Book Review

Sojourner Truth was a very familiar name to me, but I was amazed as I read this book how little I truly knew about her life. She was, as I did know, an abolitionist, but I was unaware of her work in the women's rights movement or of her Christian evangelism. Born Isabella Baumfree, she went by the name Belle, taking her masters' last names as her own. At about forty-six years of age she decided to become a traveling evangelist, and wanted a new name for a free woman. She selected the name Sojourner from Psalm 39:12. Later she adopted the last name Truth from John 8:32. The life she experienced as Belle was much different than I expected,and even included living as part of a cult. Her accomplishments as an illiterate woman of color living in the 1800s are truly amazing. Obstacles that would seem unconquerable in or own time appear as mere inconveniences to Sojourner who memorized much of the Bible, traveled around the nation in spite of having very little money, and consulted with presidents.

This book is plainly written with an emphasis on facts without embellishment. It is a quick read, but quite inspirational. Sojourner deserves honor and recognition for her role in our nation's history. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.