Last week a seven foot bronze statue of noted abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth was unveiled at the Ulster Welcome Center Plaza on the Highland side of the Walkway Over the Hudson, marking the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Esopus as an enslaved woman. After being sold several times, she “walked away by daylight” to freedom with her infant daughter Sophia in 1826, a year before legal enslavement ended in New York State. She took refuge in the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen in New Paltz.

Truth eventually became a Methodist and on June 1, 1843 she changed her name to Sojourner Truth, choosing the name after hearing the Spirit of God calling her to preach the truth. She soon left, carrying few possessions, and made her way north preaching throughout the Connecticut River Valley and into Massachusetts. She worked tirelessly to secure women’s rights, advocated for desegregation and sought to secure land grants from the federal government for former enslaved people. She gave lectures before numerous organizations not only on abolition and women’s rights, but on prison reform and against capital punishment. In her lifetime she gained the admiration and respect of many influential citizens of the day, such as Amy Post, Parker Pillsbury, William Lloyd Garrison, Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony.

Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883 in Battle Creek Michigan at the age of 86. Her funeral was held two days later at the Congregational Presbyterian Church, officiated by Reverend Reed Stuart. She was buried in the city’s Oak Hill Cemetery.

The statue is the work of Ms. Vinnie Bagwell, a Yonkers-based multi-disciplinary artist, sculptor, painter, writer, and graphic designer. The folds of Sojourner’s skirt act as a canvas to depict Sojourner’s life experiences, including images of a young enslaved mother comforting her child, a slavery sale sign, images of her abolitionist peers, and a poster for a Women’s Suffrage March.

“It has been an honor for me to create this work because this is a moment when the Empire State of New York turns the protest into progress. This public artwork—sited in such a public place—will enlighten and unify the community-at-large in our values and commitment to fight for justice and equality,” she said.

The unveiling took place on August 26, 2020, exactly 100 years to the day of the adoption of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says, “The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “Sojourner Truth’s passionate belief in equal rights for all made her an enduring role model for the reformers of the civil rights and women’s equality movements.”

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul said, “This monument finally expands representation of all who have contributed to New York’s rich history. We have made great strides in the fight for women’s equality but we still have more work to do to achieve true equality and justice for all.”

State Senator George Amedore commented, “It is fitting that we memorialize the remarkable contributions and legacy of Hudson Valley native Sojourner Truth. I’d like to thank Lt. Governor Hochul, as well as New York State Office of Parks, for this wonderful addition to the Walkway Over the Hudson.”

NYS Senator Sue Serino said Sojourner Truth’s legacy, “is one of resilience, hope and freedom for all. This breathtaking work of art is a fitting tribute to such a remarkable woman. Her statue here on the Walkway Over the Hudson will serve as a ready reminder to all who pass that we all have the ability to overcome adversity, unite our community, and do our part to create a better and more just world.”

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said Sojourner Truth, “made the conscious choice to walk away from a life of slavery. She knew her actions were justified, even if it violated the law, and thus she refused to run, She shared her experiences and her quest for freedom with our nation and her story continues to inspire many to this day.”

NYS Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson pointed out that the Walkway, “is the perfect location to recognize an Ulster County native who broke all barriers in her quest for voting and equal rights for women of all races, which was a daring and courageous battle in the 19th Century.”

Lloyd Supervisor Fred Pizzuto said, “The first 30 years of her life spent here in Ulster county were full of struggle and hardship but she overcame and her strength became an inspiration to so many. It is our hope that this beautiful statue becomes a visual celebration of her achievements and inspires those who come to visit to learn more about her life and the African-Americans who helped build this county.”

“Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist, feminist and a trailblazer on whose shoulders all New York women stand,” said NYS Assemblywoman Didi Barrett. “This monument will honor her legacy, reminding us and future generations to use our voices for change and to stand up for what we believe in.”

Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said Sojourner Truth was, “Born into slavery in Ulster County [and] she has long served as a stark reminder to the Hudson Valley that the fight for equality and justice had be to won everywhere — and, in some ways, that fight continues today.”

Walkway Executive Director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart hopes that visitors, “will become familiar with one of the Hudson Valley’s most courageous leaders. They will leave knowing the Sojourner Truth story and support her life’s work as we continue to come together to create a more equitable and just society for future generations.”

In a speech Sojourner Truth gave at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in 1851, she concluded by saying, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up, again. And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”