In 1843, Isabella Baumfree became a devoted Methodist and felt that God called her to leave New York City. She then changed her name to Sojourner Truth and toured the country to speak out against slavery. In 1844, she moved to Northampton, Massachusetts. This location is significant because it was home to the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. The Northampton Association of Education and Industry was an abolitionist utopian community and was unique in comparison to its peer institutions, due to the fact that it didn’t have a single leader or prophet. The NAEI also accepted black people as equal members, which was a rare occurrence in an institution during that time period. The Association supported women’s rights, religious tolerance, pacifism, and an end to slavery. It was here that Sojourner met William Lloyd Garrison and Fredrick Douglass. The Northampton Association of Education and Industry was also a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Association helped many slaves seeking freedom while advocating for the end of slavery, acknowledging the significance of race in this time period and the importance of freedom for slaves. With the majority of the members being white, NAEI was extremely progressive and accepting when it came to its actions and ideals. Northampton, Massachusetts is essentially where Sojourner began her journey as a famously outspoken woman’s rights activist and continued her work as an avid abolitionist with the support of the Association. 

Works Cited:

“Sojourner Truth (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/people/sojourner-truth.htm. 

“Northampton Association of Education and Industry.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 5 May 2020, storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f77daa5675df4b699d4192058818cefb.