Sojourner Truth (Radio Edit)

You're Dead to Me

BBC

Comedy, History

4.7 • 10.9K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-Century America by Dr Michell Chresfield and comedian Desiree Burch to learn all about abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth.

Born into slavery in a Dutch-speaking area of New England, Sojourner Truth fought to free herself and then others, becoming one of the best-known abolitionist activists in America. She even succeeded in freeing her son, making her the first Black American woman to win a court case.

A devoutly religious woman, Truth felt that God had called her to travel the country, preaching and advocating for the end of slavery, women’s rights and universal suffrage. Along the way, she rubbed shoulders with abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, and politicians including Abraham Lincoln himself. This episode tells the story of her incredible life, beliefs and fight for justice, and even examines the true story behind her famous “ain’t I a woman?” speech.

This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Madeleine Bracey Written by: Madeleine Bracey, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.
0:03.7	My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts.
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0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sports stars.
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0:27.2	that create a real connection to dedicated sports fans
0:30.1	across the UK.
0:31.4	So if you like this podcast,
0:33.0	head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:37.1	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:42.1	Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me,
0:44.3	the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously.
0:47.2	My name is Greg Jenner,
0:48.6	and I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster.
0:51.1	And today, we are strapping on our sturdiest walking boots
0:53.9	and hiking across America
0:55.2	to learn about renowned 19th century abolitionist, orator and civil rights activist, Sojourna Truth.
1:01.5	And to help us, we have two very special guests. In History Corner, she's an assistant professor
1:06.3	in African American history at Cornell University. Her research focuses on black and indigenous
	...

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