Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was born in 1797.  She began her life as a slave and ended it as a celebrated American freedom fighter and orator.  Born in New York she was sold several times before she managed to escape with her infant daughter in 1827.  During her life as a slave she had been beaten and suffered many other cruel and unjust hardships...including seeing her husband beaten savagely and dragged away, never to see him again.

Although she could neither read nor write, Sojourner was a captivating speaker who spoke out for women's rights and against slavery.   It was in 1851 that she gave her famous speech, "Ain't I A Woman?", a short, but stirring challenge to the notion that men were superior to women. 

Ain't I A Woman

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 bourne 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?  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.

     --Delivered 1851at a Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio

She was a controversial for most of her life and was the first black woman to test the legality of segregation of Washington, D.C. streetcars.  During the Civil War, she bought gifts for the soldiers with money raised from her lectures and helped fugitive slaves find work and housing.  After the war, she continued her tirade against racial injustice...even when old age and poor health confined her to a sanatorium in Battle Creek, Michigan.  She died there on November 26, 1883.  What a very special, brave woman she was.