Text

Ain’t I a Woman?

Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth delivered a now-famous speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, but the accuracy of the written accounts of this speech is in dispute. Two versions of the speech appear here.
Author
Sojourner Truth
Grade Level

S. Truth

The most widely quoted version of this famous speech appears first and is from The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, written by others and published in 1875. The second version is from the Salem, Ohio, Anti-Slavery Bugle, which published its version on June 21, 1851, one month after Truth’s presentation. Many scholars feel the Bugle’s version is a more accurate portrayal of the speech since it was printed within one month of the convention. However, both versions rely upon personal accounts by others and no known transcript of the speech exists.

 

Narrative of Sojourner Truth version:

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ’twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?

Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman?

I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman?

I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? (Member of audience whispers, “intellect.”) That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

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.

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.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say.

 

Anti-Slavery Bugle version:

One of the most unique and interesting speeches of the convention was made by Sojourner Truth, an emancipated slave. It is impossible to transfer it to paper, or convey any adequate idea of the effect it produced upon the audience. Those only can appreciate it who saw her powerful form, her whole-souled, earnest gesture, and listened to her strong and truthful tones. She came forward to the platform and addressing the President said with great simplicity:

May I say a few words? Receiving an affirmative answer, she proceeded; I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman’s rights [sic]. 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.

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. 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.

Source
This text is in the public domain.
Text Dependent Questions
  1. Question
    How has Sojourner Truth been treated in her life? How do you know?
    Answer
    She has had a difficult life and has been treated very poorly. She states that she has worked hard in the fields and no man ever helped her. She also had most of her children sold into slavery.
  2. Question
    What was the purpose of this speech?
    Answer
    Truth was trying to persuade people that women, black or white, should be treated as equal to men. They should have rights just like men.
  3. Question
    What is the tone of this speech?
    Answer
    The tone in the beginning is of despair and sadness, with examples about working in the field and having most of her children sold into slavery. Then Truth gets angry and frustrated by stating that Christ was born of a woman and “men better let them” have rights.
  4. Question
    The following line from the speech uses the figurative language of allusion: “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!” What is the allusion? Why did Truth make this allusion?
    Answer
    She is referring to Eve from the Bible. Eve in the Bible was blamed for bringing sin into the world. Truth mentions this because most people in that day would have recognized the allusion and it supports her point that women are strong.
  5. Question
    What two groups does Sojourner Truth list as challenging the white man for more rights?
    Answer
    Southern blacks and Northern women
  6. Question
    In the second part of her speech, Truth refutes two of the claims made in opposition to equal rights for women and Black people. What are those claims and how does she argue against them?
    Answer
    First, Truth addresses the claim that black people and women aren’t as intelligent as white men and, therefore, are not entitled to the same rights. She argues that it’s wrong, or “mean,” to deny people their dignity even if they have fewer means. Then, she addresses the claim by some Christians that Jesus was a man and, therefore, men are superior to women. She draws on her own Christian faith and understanding of the Bible to illustrate why those claims fail in her view.
  7. Question
    Reread the speech with identity in mind after studying Identity Standard 3 of the Social Justice Standards. How do Sojourner Truth’s words illustrate the meaning of Identity Standard 3? Cite a line or section of the text that you think best reflects what Truth is expressing about identity.
    Answer
    Student answers may vary but should address the concept of intersectionality, multiple identities and the relationship of Truth’s identities as both woman and black person.
  8. Question
    In the Bugle version, the author writes, “It is impossible to transfer it to paper, or convey any adequate idea of the effect it produced upon the audience.” What is impossible to transfer to paper? The speech is in fact printed in the newspaper article supplied here.
    Answer
    It is impossible to convey the effect Sojourner Truth’s speech had on the audience. Technically, the speech wasn’t written down, so that makes it difficult to transfer as well, but that fact is not supplied in the text itself.
  9. Question
    What is the meaning behind Sojourner’s claim that “if woman have a pint and man a quart—why can’t she have her little pint full”?
    Answer
    By giving a woman a pint and a man a quart, the woman is unable to take more than the pint will hold. A woman will have only as many rights as you give her. Giving her some does not mean she will take more than she has been given.
Reveal Answers