Front:
Sojourner Truth
22
BALLUT
Black Heritage USA
FEB
1986
12561
Vtirnweis
NY
Back:
SOJOURNER TRUTH
First Day of Issue: February 4, 1986
First Issue Location: New Paltz, New York
Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, Sojourner Truth became
one of America's foremost freedom fighters and suppor-
ters of the abolitionist movement. Young Isabella learned
of the tragedies of slavery early, for she was separated
from her parents and sold into slavery at the age of only
nine. During the next twenty-one years, young Isabella
was sold from one slave owner to the next, until 1827
when New York law banned slavery. Upon receiving
her new freedom, she experienced what she regarded
as a command from God to preach His word and to help
the abolitionist movement free her people. She changed
her name to Sojourner Truth and began lecturing in New
York. In her fight to free the blacks from slavery,
Sojourner Truth engaged the courts in two unusual cases
- both of which she won. Thus, she became the first
black to win a case of slander against whites, and the
first to test the legality of segregation on Washington,
D.C., streetcars. She continued her fight for Civil Rights
until her death in 1883.
No. 86-8
1986 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Shannon Stirnweis.
