Ain't I a Woman...Sojourner Truth
Admire Gary
Professor Larson
English 102
23 September 2011 In the argument,”Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth, the author herself talks about her true life events during the slavery era. During the early 1900s, America endured a time of slavery where blacks were owned by whites and discriminated against for years. Black men during the early 1900s; were able to speak to their owners, establishing rapport and in return received better treatment than black women. Women during those times, black or white, were not able to vote or hold highly respected positions in the community. Although discrimination was directed towards blacks and women, black women specifically endured far more discrimination from both Caucasian men, and black men. In the beginning of the argument called,”Ain’t I a woman?” by Sojourner Truth, white men during the times of slavery believed that women should be placed on a pedestal. White men thought that women should be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches (Truth 531). They also believed that women should have a nice place to live and should never have to walk over mud. The author makes it clear in her argument that she was not receiving that type of treatment at all. She states that, “Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head (which means help) me! Ain’t I a woman?”(Truth 531). Being that black women and white women were obviously being treated differently by white men, black men even discriminated against black women. The author talks about a black man saying; “Women can’t have as much rights as men cause Christ wasn’t a woman!”(Truth 531). Even black men during slavery, believed that they were the dominant gender. Men were considered kings since the medieval times. When the author heard that statement she quickly states,” Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him” (Truth 531). In the argument titled, “Ain’t I a
Professor Larson
English 102
23 September 2011 In the argument,”Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth, the author herself talks about her true life events during the slavery era. During the early 1900s, America endured a time of slavery where blacks were owned by whites and discriminated against for years. Black men during the early 1900s; were able to speak to their owners, establishing rapport and in return received better treatment than black women. Women during those times, black or white, were not able to vote or hold highly respected positions in the community. Although discrimination was directed towards blacks and women, black women specifically endured far more discrimination from both Caucasian men, and black men. In the beginning of the argument called,”Ain’t I a woman?” by Sojourner Truth, white men during the times of slavery believed that women should be placed on a pedestal. White men thought that women should be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches (Truth 531). They also believed that women should have a nice place to live and should never have to walk over mud. The author makes it clear in her argument that she was not receiving that type of treatment at all. She states that, “Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head (which means help) me! Ain’t I a woman?”(Truth 531). Being that black women and white women were obviously being treated differently by white men, black men even discriminated against black women. The author talks about a black man saying; “Women can’t have as much rights as men cause Christ wasn’t a woman!”(Truth 531). Even black men during slavery, believed that they were the dominant gender. Men were considered kings since the medieval times. When the author heard that statement she quickly states,” Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him” (Truth 531). In the argument titled, “Ain’t I a
Cited: Phillips, Harry R., and Patricia Bostian. The Purposeful Argument:A Practical Guide. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. 531-32. Print.