Sojourner Truth (1979-1883): Ain’t I A Woman?

Question

Delivered 1851
Women’s Rights Convention, Old Stone Church (since demolished), Akron, Ohio
“May I say a few words?”
“I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman’s right. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal; I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am strong as any man that is now.”
“As for intellect, all I can say is, if woman have a pint and man a quart—why can’t she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much—for we won’t take more than our pint’ll hold.”
“Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.”
“The poor men seem to be all in confusion and don’t know what to do. Why children, if you have woman’s rights give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won’t be so much trouble. I can’t read, but I can hear. I have heard the Bible and have learned that Eve caused man to sin. Well if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again.”
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women 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.”
“The Lady has spoken about Jesus, how he never spurned woman from him, and she was right. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha came to him with faith and love and besought him to raise their brother. And Jesus wept—and Lazarus came forth. And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and woman who bore him. Man, where is your part? But the women are coming up blessed be God, and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard.”

Answer 1

Sojourner Truth’s speech “Ain’t I A Woman?” delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, is a powerful and pioneering address advocating for both women's rights and the abolition of slavery. In it, Truth employs a series of compelling arguments and rhetorical techniques aimed at dismantling prejudice and asserting the equality and strength of women, particularly African American women, in a society that often marginalized them.

Key Themes and Analysis:

1. Physical Strength and Capability: Truth emphasizes her physical labor and strength, positioning herself as equal to men in terms of capability. By recounting her experiences of hard work, she counters the stereotype that women are too weak or delicate for laborious tasks. This challenge to gender norms is a bold assertion of women's worth and abilities.

2. Intellectual Equality: She addresses the notion of intellect, questioning the societal perception that men are inherently superior in this regard. Truth uses the metaphor of volume—comparing a woman's intellect to a pint and a man's to a quart—to argue that women should be allowed to fully develop and utilize their intellectual potential. This highlights her demand for educational and intellectual rights for women.

3. Religious and Historical References: Truth strategically uses religious references to critique patriarchal interpretations of Christianity. By pointing out that Jesus came into the world through a woman, she challenges the idea that women are lesser beings. Her rhetorical questions serve to underline the absurdity of these beliefs, demanding recognition of women’s essential role in both history and spirituality.

4. Collective Empowerment: She posits that if a single woman (Eve) could cause significant change, then together, women should be capable of rectifying societal wrongs. Truth’s call for unity among women reflects her belief in collective action as a means to effect change.

5. Intersectionality: Truth’s speech also highlights the intersection of race and gender. As an African American woman, she brings a unique perspective to the women’s rights movement, asserting that Black women face compounded discrimination. Her message advocates for the rights of all women, while also acknowledging the struggles specific to women of color.

6. Empathy and Call to Action: By stating that granting women their rights will ultimately benefit men, Truth appeals to a sense of empathy and logic. This approach urges men to reconsider their societal roles and the injustices faced by women, presenting rights for women as not just a female issue but a societal necessity.

Truth’s oratory underscores her enduring legacy as a powerful activist for civil rights and women's rights, articulating a vision of equality that resonates throughout history. Her words continue to inspire movements for justice and equality, reminding us of the complex interplay between race, gender, and societal norms.