Script

Narrator: Slavery has been something that has affected the world for many years and had finally come to an end. Today I have brought Sojourner Truth. She was born in Swartekill New York, being one of 13 children. Today she is here to tell us about her experience with slavery and how she escaped to freedom. Hello Sojourner.

Sojourner: Hi, I am very happy to be here and to tell my story today. Slavery is something that has deeply affected my life and I am happy to share it with the rest of the world. I had moved around a lot so I know a lot about the topic. I had moved about 4 times in my life, moving from north to south. That’s how I picked up my southernly accent.

Narrator: Ok, so how about we move on to your escape to freedom

Sojourner: Yes of course. Let me try to remember it exactly. Well the emancipation of slavery was coming into effect in New York, but no one followed those rules. At the beginning of the 1820’s the government really started to go out and make the slave owners free them. We lived in a very rural part of the state in upstate New York so he hadn’t been bothered quite yet. My slave owner at the time promised to release me, "if I would do well and be faithful." I ended up injuring my hand my owner changed his mind because he claimed that I was less productive because of the injury. I was very mad at him, I was very upset. I continued to cope and persevere until I felt I did him enough work by spinning 100 pounds of wool for him. In late 1826 I escaped to freedom with my youngest daughter. I was finally free. Finally. I remember my daughter while packing our things, “Mommy where are we going?” and I told her (starts to cry) “Honey, we are free.” She didn’t quite vocalize how she was feeling, but the bright light in her eyes told me that she felt joyous.

Narrator: Wow. I bet words cannot describe that feeling of freedom.

Sojourner: You have no idea.

Narrator: So where did you go after that?

Sojourner: We decided to actually leave the state until the emancipation was in full effect, then we would return and see how things went until then.

Narrator: I bet it was tough not knowing where you would go.

Sojourner: Although it was, freedom is priceless and that was all that mattered at the time. I knew I was a smart woman and that I could provide food and shelter for my daughter and I.

Narrator: That is true.

Sojourner: But we did move out of New York temporarily, but my plan was to go back after everything was in order with the slave emancipation. I then moved to the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagener, who took me and my daughter in. They were the most gracious people. I offered to work, and they accepted my offer, but they said they needed an extra pair of hands anyway so in return I could live in freedom, leave whenever I wanted, and I would never be forced to work.

Narrator: That was very kind of them.

Sojourner: They were the most loving family and if I was working, they would take care of my daughter, who was barely capable of doing things herself.

Narrator: So they helped you find your son, who was sold illegally, am I correct?

Sojourner: Yes, after many court dates, and paperwork and hours of grief, I found my son (whimpers). You don’t know what it’s like to have a daughter or son of yours disappear while they could be abused and have no one.
But I finally had him.

Narrator: I bet it was extremely difficult. But what did you do after that.

Sojourner: I became a civil rights activist. I tried to gain women’s rights and actually had a meeting with the president trying to convince him to allow women to vote. Although I was not successful at gaining any, I spoke at many conventions and I think I am one of the reasons of why women have more rights now than they used to.
Narrator: I would have to agree. But unfortunately we are out of time, I am very sorry. We appreciate you coming out today to talk about your grief and hardship.

Sojourner: It was no problem, thank you.