'Ain't I A Woman?' by Sojourner Truth

(https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sojourner-truth)

Sojourner Truth was an African American Woman and activist for both women’s rights and the ending of slavery. According to biography.com, she was born as a slave in New York State in 1797, with the name Isabella Baumfree. In 1815, she fell in love with a slave named Robert, and the two had a daughter named Diana. Robert’s owner banned their relationship, and unfortunately, the two never saw each other again. After this Truth’s owner convinced her to marry another slave, and together they had a son and two daughters. In 1827, she ran away with one of her daughters after her master refused to set her free. A while later in 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth, and began to get involved in the abolitionist and women’s rights movements. She would remain very involved and committed to these movements until her death in 1883.

In 1851, she delivered the speech known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio (Sojourner Truth Biography). In this speech, which is still popular and very well known to this day, she talks about how she is treated as a woman and as a woman of color, as she asks, “Ain’t I a Woman?” This speech had such an impact that to this day it is still very well known, and Sojourner Truth is still known primarily for it and for writing a classic speech on women’s rights. This speech also goes well with my theme of women’s rights and roles throughout history, as Sojourner Truth was a big advocate for women’s rights, and this speech does well in representing her role in it, and talking about women’s rights in general. Though it is unclear what the original version of the speech was, as the speech has been translated and recorded numerous times over the years, it is clear that either way it was and still is very impactful.

Works Cited

“Her Words.” Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee, 16 Nov. 2017, sojournertruthmemorial.org/sojourner-truth/her-words/.

History.com Staff. “Sojourner Truth.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/sojourner-truth.

“Sojourner Truth.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 27 Feb. 2018, www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284.

“Sojourner Truth: Ain't I A Woman? (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/sojourner-truth.htm.