Women’s Rights Convention, Old Stone Church (since demolished), Akron, Ohio

Question

“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.”
Directions and Prompt: This speech was given prior to the Civil War and nearly 70 years before women in the United States were allowed to vote.
Answer these three questions in your post!
What is Sojourner Truth saying about the connection between civil rights for African Americans and the rights of women?
Why was she able to stand before a large audience and expound this way without notes or preparation?
What issue of today might inspire you to make an unrehearsed speech?
Post a detailed response to the Sojourner Truth Discussion prompt by answering all three questions.

Answer 1

Sojourner Truth's speech at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, eloquently articulates the fundamental connection between civil rights for African Americans and the rights of women. In her address, Truth emphasizes that both movements are rooted in the pursuit of equality and justice. She asserts that women are just as capable as men, not only in physical strength but also intellectually, challenging prevailing perceptions of gender roles. Truth employs the metaphor of a "pint" and a "quart" to argue that women do not seek to overreach but simply wish to have their equal share. Her reference to Christ’s origins—being born of God and a woman—serves as an illustration of the interconnectedness of femininity with divinity and human history, underscoring that both women and Black individuals deserve rights and recognition that have long been denied to them.

Sojourner Truth's ability to deliver her speech without notes or preparation can be attributed to her innate oratory skills, deep conviction, and personal experience. As a formerly enslaved African American woman, her life story and the injustices she faced fueled her passion and urgency to speak out. This personal history provided her with a wealth of lived experiences to draw upon, making her words resonate powerfully with her audience. Additionally, her confidence and presence in the face of a predominantly male and potentially hostile audience reflect the societal changes that were gradually becoming accepted during her time, allowing her to stand firm in her beliefs.

Today, the issues of racial inequality, gender-based violence, and climate change might inspire me to make an unrehearsed speech. Each of these topics represents ongoing struggles that affect many individuals and communities. For instance, witnessing environmental injustice in marginalized neighborhoods could compel someone to advocate spontaneously for environmental rights and protections. Public sentiment around such critical issues can ignite a passion that impels individuals to rise and speak out without preparation, echoing Truth's significant ability to convey her perspective passionately, reflecting her context and committed stance on civil rights for both women and African Americans.