Sojourner Story

Krislyn
February 13, 2007
Sojourner Story


“Grandpa! I don’t feel like hearing a story, I just want to go to watch T.V.” I whined at my grandfather who was yet again trying to tell me another untrue/true folktale. You see Grandpa Tillwater was never the type to tell an all the way true story. It was always a folktale in which my Grandpa would add something that was false or gave a lesson.

“Shut up with that whining Linda and come here and let Grandpa tell you a story about a woman named Sojourner Truth.” Grandpa said while walking on his cane to the small but decent living room couch.

“I don’t wanna here a story or a folktale… or whatever you call it. I just want to watch MTV’s Sweet Sixteen!” Linda whined again, and then turned her head to watch the obnoxious teenage girls that threw temper tantrums over money and their party. Grandpa then turned his direction to Linda’s favorite show, and a look of disgust covered grandpa’s face as he placed the wooden pipe in his mouth…

“Turn this crap off and come here! You don’t learn anything from that junk!” Grandpa ordered more sternly than before. As Linda got up to turn off the small colored television, she mumbled harsh things about Grandpa Tillwater the whole time.

“Do I hear you talking back Linda?” Grandpa asked his face beginning to wrinkle up and his nose beginning to flare.

“No Grandpa.” Linda said solemnly. While fixing her clothes on her skinny frame.

“All right then…you better not be. But anyway I’ma tell you a story about Ms. Sojourner Truth. Yeah, Ms. Truth was a good woman, she was a fighter too. But let’s get into the story…”








The year was 1825 and Isabella Baumfree was steadily picking cotton through the dangerous fields in the hot and sticky weather on her slave master Mr. Dumont’s plantation. (The fields were the most dangerous. It consisted of poisonous snakes and lizards, and many died from high temperature.) She was dripping from perspiration and her back ached from steadily bending over. The grass in the fields was brown and poky. Isabella’s dingy and wet clothes barely covered her body, and she wore no shoes or socks…just the ripped clothing she made, and the skin on her back. This caused her skin to be fairly rough and appear dirty.

“Issabella! Oh Isssyyy-Bellllllaaa!” Isabella’s husband Thomas called beckoning attention from Isabella who was in her own world staring deep in thought at a eagle flying freely in the hot summer sky. “Isabella!” Thomas called once again, now running towards her to get her attention, which caused his huge belly to flop as he ran.

“Oh I’m so sorry Thomas; I just have a lot on my mind. What is it, dear?” Isabella said still slightly dazed as she awaited Thomas’s’ news.

“Issy, are you thinking about freedom again? If so, I told you to not worry about free will, I don’t want to ruin your dreams but freedom isn’t supposed to be in your or my vocabulary. Negroes don’t get it, we are here to work, so get up and get to work before we get a whipping and I know you don’t want that.” Thomas reasoned with such authority, while wiping sweat off of his forehead.

“Thomas, don’t worry about it. Now I told you to stop assuming what I’m thinking, you ain’t me, honey.” Isabella spoke slightly annoyed with Thomas’s presence. She’d never loved Thomas romantically. In fact she was forced marriage by Mr. Dumont. Isabella already had a loved one by the name of Robert, who lived on another plantation. Robert’s plantation owner didn’t approve Isabella and Robert’s love for each other so he separated the two by beating Robert senseless. Robert never returned to see Isabella again.

“I know Issy, I’m sorry. I just worry about you sometimes since you tend to always zone out in deep thought.” Thomas replied with sincerity.

“It’s okay Thomas; I worry about myself at times. But let’s go back to the shack to start preparing dinner for Dumont and his family. You already know he’s impatient. Isabella said. With that said Thomas and Isabella headed home with a large stack of cotton from the fields.



As soon as Isabella headed to the shack she called home, (which was broke down and had no windows that opened. Isabella’s whole family slept on the floor in fear the house would break down because of the weight the cot would carry.) she busied herself with Dumont’s dinner, and Thomas got the kids ready. Together they had 4 children; all were close in age, so they naturally had a close bond.

Soon, Isabella was ready to go to the Dumont Mansion to serve dinner. Isabella loved going to the mansion, she loved the expensive things Mr. Dumont had in his house; such as leather furniture, gold and chandeliers. All of the things had Isabella in a state of awe. Isabella had great cooking skills and was always ordered to the Dumont mansion to cook. This certain night, Isabella made hush puppies, cornbread, chicken, and gumbo. All dishes happened to be Mr. Dumont’s favorite. After being praised graciously by Dumont’s wife for Isabella’s expertise skills in cooking, Dumont pulled Isabella to the side.

“Isabella, am I good to you?” Dumont asked while picking the meat that laid between his teeth.

“Umm…Yes sir. You treat me well. I appreciate it!” Isabella replied nervous enough for her to faint.

“That’s a good answer. Now haven’t you heard about the abolition of slaves? You know the one where those people are trying to free ya’ll Negroes.” Dumont asked casually while picking at his nails.

“Yes Mr. Dumont…sir…I’ve heard of it.” Isabella replied but still unsure of Dumont’s questioning.

“Yeah well I was thinking, you are one fine slave I got here. That’s why I treat you so good. Then I thought why would I want to get rid of a slave like that? Then I thought well I’m being selfish because Isabella deserves freedom. So, how would you like it if I let you out early if you work hard…I mean really hard to my approval.” Dumont propositioned.

Isabella sat there for a moment shocked by what Dumont was saying. What if this man is fooling with me? Isabella thought.

“Issy, did you here what I just said,” Dumont questioned while trying to get Isabella’s attention.

“I am so sorry Mr. Dumont. Yes I heard you. That sounds great! Are you really going to let me be free?” Isabella asked excitedly.

“Isn’t that what I just said Issy?” Dumont said becoming frustrated. Then he began to walk off.

“Mr. Dumont thank you so much! I will work so hard for my freedom!” Isabella yelled after him. He never turned back around to acknowledge what she’d just said.







“Grandpa Tillwater, so you mean to tell me this man just asked her if she wants freedom.” I asked becoming indulged in the story. “What kind of question is that? Of course she wants freedom.

Grandpa chuckled before responding to the 12 year old. “Well Linda, he wanted to mess with good old Sojourner, he wanted to know her answer.” Grandpa said.

“Huh?! This man is dumb; common sense would tell him that she would say yes to wanting freedom. That’s like Sojourner asking him if he would rather live in a mansion or live in a shack and be poor.” I replied becoming agitated with the characters in the story. “Why do you keep on calling her Isabella Grandpa? Isn’t her name Sojourner?” I asked with a confused expression on my face.

“Linda, baby, hush…I will soon tell you.” Grandpa Tillwater chuckled, and then continued his story with Linda paying close attention.



Over the past year, Isabella worked her hardest at everything. She always went over the top. If Mr. Dumont told her to clean his living room, she’d clean all of the rooms thoroughly plus, she’d leave a beautiful scent that would have the Dumont family begging Isabella to clean there mansion. But also, Isabella worked too much and got an arm injury causing her right arm to move slower, but that didn’t stop Isabella from working hard.

The day had come for Isabella to be released. She’d prepared a goodbye dinner for her family, and her family made new clothes for Isabella and everything.

“You be careful out there do you here me?” Thomas said while hugging Isabella with there infant baby girl.

“Okay Thomas, I’m going to miss you and the kids, I promise when I get the chance I will come back for ya’ll.” Isabella promised. With that said she headed to the Dumont’s house.

“Knock” “Knock” Knock,” Isabella knocked on Mr. Dumont’s mansion door. Soon there was a reply from his wife. “Yes Issy, how may I help you?” Mrs. Dumont asked sternly.

“Umm…Hi Mrs. Dumont. Can I speak to your husband he’s setting me free!” Isabella spoke overly excited.

“Oh really…hmmm.” Mrs. Dumont said mischievously before going to get her husband. Soon Mr. Dumont came to the door.

“Hi Mr. Dumont! I’m ready to leave now…for my freedom.” Isabella said cheerfully with bright eyes.

“Oh yeah, about that. You aren’t leaving; you disobeyed me because you messed up your arm. So go put your bags back because you’re staying here.” Dumont said casually then closed the door in Isabella’s face.

“Mr. Dumont, what are you talking about?” Isabella whispered in a tone only she could here. Her voice began to crack and she couldn’t take it anymore. A waterfall of tears began t fall from her face. “I hate him, I hate all men. Actually I hate all White men for that matter Isabella said before picking up her bags to walk back to her shack.

As Isabella walked back to her shack her children and Thomas came running by her side and asking her what’s wrong. After so much explanation, Isabella became angry with everyone. All night Isabella sat up thinking about how wrong Mr. Dumont had treated her. She became angrier with herself for not standing up to him, but what much could she possibly do. Angry Isabella silently woke up to spin wool of thread to make a blanket and make a sack dinner. She gathered all of her things and her infant baby girl’s things to set off.

“I can’t stay here, I need my freedom and so does this poor infant.” Isabella thought to herself.

She then quietly picked up her baby and got her things to leave. “I’m sorry family but I gotta go.” Isabella whispered to herself. The door silently creaked open and that was the last Sojourner saw of her family before leaving for the North and her freedom.