Sojourner Truth - Ain't I a Woman?

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Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and civil rights leader of the 19th century. She was a reformer who fought to end slavery, for women's rights, women's suffrage, and for temperance.

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In 1851, she gave a speech entitled "Ain't I a Woman?" which ​highlighted the hypocrisy of slavery and patriarchy.

​Akron Ohio, 1851

​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 any man- when I could get it- and I could bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? Then they talk about this thing in the head; what is it they call it? Yeah, that’s right, 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 man in the back there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Well where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? He came from God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with it.If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, well these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And they asking to do it, the men better let them.