Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation S1480-A/A6583-A to establish November 26th as Sojourner Truth Day in the State of New York, named in honor of the legendary abolitionist and women’s rights advocate who was born in Ulster County.
Sojourner Truth was born in the Hudson Valley in 1797 and was enslaved in New York until she escaped in 1826.
In historic proceedings at the Ulster County Courthouse, Sojourner Truth became the first Black woman to successfully sue for her son’s emancipation from slavery. Sojourner Truth spent the rest of her life traveling the country fighting for the abolition of slavery.
In 2022, New York State established Sojourner Truth State Park in Ulster County. This new State Park — the first new park to open since 2019 and the first State Park in Kingston, New York — offers spectacular views of the Hudson River and historic industrial ruins and remnants from brick making and quarrying.
Soujourner Truth Day is one of 41 days of commemoration in New York State Law – see them all here.
Read more about Sojourner Truth here.
Photo: Sojourner Truth, from an albumen silver print ca. 1870.
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