Sojourner Truth: Remarks at the Women’s Convention (1851)
Andrew Finstuen
Introduction
Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, Sojourner Truth boldly walked away from enslavement in New York State in the late 1820s. From that point forward, she was a tireless abolitionist and advocate for women’s rights. Shortly after gaining her freedom, she sued the man who had enslaved her to win the freedom of her son Peter. She prevailed in court–an early legal milestone for the African American community–and continued pushing for the rights of blacks and women, especially through her role as a lay preacher. By 1843, her faith in God and faith in freedom and equality led her to change her name to Sojourner Truth. As she put it, God had called her to travel (sojourn) and speak the truth as a preacher.
She indeed lived by her name, and she became known as a powerful speaker on the topics of antislavery, freedom, equality, and women’s suffrage. Although she never learned to read or write, her plainspoken intelligence moved audiences and increased her circle of influence. She met with fellow antislavery advocate Frederick Douglass, suffragettes such as Susan B. Anthony, and President Abraham Lincoln.
In 1851, she gave a celebrated speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. She spoke without a text owing to her illiteracy; however, a journalist printed her remarks a few weeks later. Another version became available more than a decade later in 1863. The 1851 version is provided here. Her rights work evolved into support for troops, especially African American regiments, during the Civil War. More than 100 years later, in 2009, as recognition of her leadership for freedom and equality, a sculpture of Sojourner Truth was added to the U.S. Capitol. It marked another first in her life as she became the first African American woman to receive such an honor.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- How do you interpret Truth’s reference to women having a “pint” and a man a “quart”?
- How does she appeal to religious story and language to make her case for women’s rights?
Ain’t I a Woman? – Sojourner Truth
1851 version by Marius Robinson
May I say a few words? I want to say a few words about this matter.
I am a woman’s rights. 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 as strong as any man that is now.
As for intellect, all I can say is, if women 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 cant take more than our pint’ll hold.
The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and dont 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 wont be so much trouble.
I cant 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.
1863 version by Frances Dana Gage
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.
Source: Truth, S. (1851, May 29). “Ain’t I a woman?” Archives of Women’s Political Communication, Iowa State University. https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/aint-i-a-woman-may-291851/
Optional Video: “Ain’t I a Woman?” Performed by Alfre Woodard
If the video doesn’t appear, follow this direct link: “Ain’t I a Woman?” Performed by Alfre Woodard (03:38 min.)
Use the direct link to open the video in YouTube to display and expand the video. For a transcript, refer to the “Ain’t I a Woman?” Performed by Alfre Woodard document.
Video uploaded: October 23, 2014 by Human Rights First.
Expand to read transcript
Alfre Woodard: 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 ar’n’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 ar’n’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 else to say.
Source: Human Rights First. (2014, October 23). “Ain’t I a woman?” Performed by Alfre Woodard [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uJucKgFosu4
