Sojourner Truth, a civil rights and women’s rights activist who made history by fighting for equality in the US, is being remembered on the first day of Black History Month.

Truth, whose legacy is the subject of a Google Doodle this Friday, was born Isabella Baumfree in Ulster County, New York, around 1797. She lived through the horrors of the slave trade and was bought and sold several times.

Prior to New York State’s emancipation of 4 July, 1827, which effectively ended slavery in the state, Truth fled with one of her at least five children.

An abolitionist family bought the rest of her services until the state’s emancipation legislation took effect, with Truth thus securing her freedom. She relocated to New York City in 1829 with two of her children, having successfully sued to be reunited with her young son, who had been illegally sold into slavery.

Truth became linked to missionary Elijah Pierson, drawing on her previous inclinations towards preaching. In 1843, she left New York City and changed her name to Sojourner Truth, telling her friends according to Wesleyan University: “The Spirit calls me [East], and I must go ... the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people.”

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EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Washington Thousands of people participate in the Third Annual Women's March at Freedom Plaza in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts JOSHUA ROBERTS REUTERS Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures New York Demonstrators take part in a march organized by the Women's March Alliance in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs CAITLIN OCHS Reuters Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Berlin A woman holds up a poster as she takes part in a Women's March in front of the Brandenburg Gate on January 19, 2019 in Berlin. - The Women's March movement that has started in the US and has become global supports women's rights, fights for an end to the gender pay gap and aims to bring awareness to violence against women and demand action to end it. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images ODD ANDERSEN AFP/Getty Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Washington Baby Trump balloons float over thousands of people as they participate in the Third Annual Women's March at Freedom Plaza in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts JOSHUA ROBERTS Reuters Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures New York Protesters hold signs during the Women's Unity Rally at Foley Square on January 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images ANGELA WEISS AFP/Getty Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Washington Thousands of people participate in the Third Annual Women's March at Freedom Plaza in Washington, U.S. January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott ERIN SCOTT REUTERS Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Washington Resist signs are held aloft as thousands of people participate in the Third Annual Women's March at Freedom Plaza in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2019. 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(Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images) Carsten Koall Getty Images Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Berlin epa07299365 A woman holds a sign reading 'Rise up and resist' during the 2019 Wome's March in Berlin, Germany, 19 January 2019. The march is to support women's rights, against racism and violence against women. EPA/MARKUS HEINE MARKUS HEINE EPA Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Berlin epa07299373 A woman holds a sign reading 'I'm not ovary acting' during the 2019 Wome's March in Berlin, Germany, 19 January 2019. The march is to support women's rights, against racism and violence against women. EPA/MARKUS HEINE MARKUS HEINE EPA Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Protesters take part in the Women's March calling for equality, justice and an end to austerity in London, Britain January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON Reuters Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London REFILE - ADDING RESTRICTIONS Protesters hold up signs in the Women's March calling for equality, justice and an end to austerity in London, Britain January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson TEMPLATE OUT SIMON DAWSON Reuters Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Berlin BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 19: People attend the Women's March 2019 protest for more women's rights on January 19, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Organized by Democrats Abroad, the event coincides with Women's Marches taking place today across the USA. (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images) Carsten Koall Getty Images Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures Berlin epa07299383 A man holds a sign with the reading 'here for my sisters' during the 2019 Women's March in Berlin, Germany, 19 January 2019. The march is to support women's rights, against racism and violence against women. EPA/MARKUS HEINE MARKUS HEINE EPA Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 – global protest in pictures London Women's march for “bread and roses” – rally against austerity in London Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent

She joined an anti-slavery, pro-women’s rights organisation in 1844 and published her memoirs six years later. Truth gained traction as a speaker, delivering her most famous address, which contained the memorable phrase “Ain’t I a woman?” at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851.

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere,” Truth said in her speech, according to a transcript pulished by Fordham University.

“Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!”

Portrait of American abolitionist and feminist Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883), a former slave who advocated emancipation, circa 1880. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ((Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images))

During the Civil War, Truth supported black volunteer regiments by gathering supplies for them. She met with President Abraham Lincoln at the White House in 1864. Over the course of that same year, she helped integrate streetcars in Washington, DC, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

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Truth also worked as a counselor for former slaves via the National Freedmen’s Relief Association.