Sojourner Truth's Walk to Freedom, October 1826

 In 1826, Isabella, later renamed Sojourner Truth was promised early freedom in New York if she completed a year's work early. When she did as asked, Dumont, her owner reneged on his promise that spring. That fall, Isabella prayed and says her God told her to pack her things, prepare her baby, Sophia for the journey and leave.

The 29 year old woman did not run. She walked into freedom. Later, the family that sheltered her paid Dumont wages he said he'd lose in the months between October and July 4, 1927. In 1927, New York was going to begin to free enslaved Africans. 

Isabella had made arrangements with Dumont to be freed earlier. The Van Wagener couple also paid Dumont for the baby. This generosity legally set Isabella Van Wagener free. She took her benefactors' name.

I want to celebrate Truth's freedom walk. We don't know the day, but we know the month: October. We claim the entire month. 

"So Tall Within" (2018) author, Gary D. Schmidt is a Michigan native-- Sojourner Truth's final home state, a Newberry Honoree and National Book Award finalist. Ilustrator, Daniel Minter, is a Corretta Scott King and Caldecott award winning artist who lives in Maine.  Minter's artistry is a lovely complement to Schmidt's story of a powerful ancestor, Sojourner Truth, whose faith and belief in God was unparalleled. Written for a young audience, the author stays close to Truth's "Narrative" in the retelling. "So Tall Inside" is reflective yet not traumatizing. It is a beautiful book in multiple ways. 

Key ideas which will resonate with young readers are: slavery is an evil system--it separates a young girl from her family. Other themes are: parental love, self-determination, compassion, trustworthiness, and of course freedom. 

Isabella later Sojourner Truth introduced in "So Tall," has courage and foresight. Her principles and values grew her from within. She is brave. She trusts God. 

Her parents, Mau Mau Bette and her dad, known as Baumfree (Dutch for "tree") because he stood tall and upright, raised their youngest child to obey and do good work.  

Sojourner Truth grew into a woman who was uncompromising in her vision for Black women and Black men. She advocated freedom both from shackled minds and bound hands. She spoke out for full and complete freedom: politically, economically and spiritually-- in the public and private domain. Sex and race had nothing to do with freedom. She exemplified fearlessness. 

You can see the book in this recording.