Sojourner Truth Rhetorical Speech Essay

In the year 1851, Sojourner Truth, an African American woman, delivered a speech at the Women’s Convention. Her speech went down in history with great influential value due to its rawness and motivation. She sent a powerful message to her audience that will never be forgotten. Addressing the hardships of being not only a woman in society during 1851 but also being a black woman. She uses personal experiences to deliver her message.
Sojourner says, “women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and have the best place everywhere.” After describing the way how a man believes he should treat a woman she then says, “Nobody ever helps me into carriages or over mud-puddles, or gives me the best place!” She contrasts her argument because if men believe women should be treated with respect in a certain way, why is she, a woman, not receiving the same respect. This poses a great inconsistency with how men should treat women. Based solely on her skin color she is treated differently.
Sojourner empowers the audience by repeating the question, “and ain’t I a woman?” By doing so, and repeating this rhetorical question she makes a commanding statement. She allows the women in the audience to feel empowered and motivates them. She compares her equality to men by saying, “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?” This statement shows how she believes that if she is able to do the same work as men shouldn’t she also be considered equal to them? The question “And ain’t I a woman?” delivers this statement she is trying to get across, each time with more emphasis.
She then directly addresses the mothers listening to her by saying, “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?” This allows her audience to relate to her on a more personal emotional level especially as mothers in the audience can relate. She begins to end with another reference that more people could relate to, a biblical reference. She says, “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.” She continues to say, “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.” Not only does this address the audience on a religious matter but also a feminine way. She reaches out to people through God and references Eve as a female figure to emulate. She allows the women to believe that as a team they can change anything they want and attain equality.
Sojourner Truth uses many different ways to entice her audience on different levels. She successfully conveys her message of equality based on gender and race. Not only does she use biblical references but also anecdotes from her personal life. In doing so, she was recognized greatly as a leader and advocate of equality.

Ain't I a Woman? By Sojourner Truth

The Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio - December 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 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.