When someone goes down in history as a notable person, people do not often think too deeply about what made the person the remarkable individual that they are. Nonetheless, accomplished individuals are just as human as those who acknowledge the work that they have done. In Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol, Nell Irvin Painter successfully executes the task of presenting the admirable woman Sojourner Truth in a different light. The main purpose of the narrative is to deviate from the typical characterization of Sojourner Truth, a woman remembered for her activism and viewed as a strong outspoken character, and showing her as a multi-faceted individual who has her flaws and is more than just a symbol. Sojourner Truth lives on as a symbol, but she was born a slave. A part of Truth’s identity that Nell Irvin Painter focuses on is who she was as …show more content…
It was what got her through hardships that she faced as a result of slavery. Her faith was so strong that when her son Peter was sold south, she turned to God in her desperation. When looking for direction in her life, she felt that God was leading her along the way. It was through faith that she decided it was time to leave the Dumonts. Similarly, when she left for Connecticut it was through God that she decided her path. “Without doubt, it was Truth’s religious faith that transformed her from Isabella, a domestic servant, into Sojourner Truth, a hero for three centuries—at least.” As a symbol, Sojourner Truth is remembered for her activism and her resilience. In her lifetime, Truth advocated for women’s rights as well as for abolition. Truth has a noticeable presence with her stature and her voice. Truth was known across far distances and was able to meet important figures in her lifetime. Truth met three presidents and met leaders such as Frederick Douglass. As a remarkable figure, she made a name for herself. These are the more human aspects of Truth’s