AIN’T I A WOMAN

by Sojourner Truth
 Background about SOJOURNER TRUTH
Sojourner Truth was a prominent African-American abolitionist
and women's rights activist. Born into slavery around 1797 in
Swartekill, New York, she escaped to freedom in 1826 and
became one of the most significant figures in the struggle for civil
rights and gender equality in the United States during the 19th
century

Truth's birth name was Isabella Baumfree, and she endured the
harsh conditions of slavery, experiencing physical and emotional
SOJOURNER TRUTH abuse. After gaining her freedom, she became deeply involved in
the abolitionist movement, advocating for the end of slavery and
the rights of African Americans.
• When was she born?
• When did she get free? One of her most famous speeches, "Ain't I a Woman?", delivered
• When did all these events take place? at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851, highlighted the
• What was her original name? intersectionality of race and gender in the struggle for equality. In
• What is the setting of her most important her powerful speech, she challenged prevailing notions of
speech?
femininity and argued for the inclusion of black women in the
• What does her background tell you
about her? fight for women's rights.
• What two reform movements does Sojourner
Truth connect?
• Truth connects two reform movements: the abolitionist
movement and the women's rights movement
Sojourner Truth emphasizes the intersectionality of race
and gender in her speech, highlighting the experiences
and struggles of African American women who faced
discrimination and oppression on multiple fronts. By
connecting the abolitionist cause with the fight for
women's rights, she argues for the inclusion of black
women in both movements and calls for solidarity
among those seeking social justice and equality.
• According to Truth, what privileges do many
people think women should enjoy?
• In her speech "Ain't I a Woman?", Sojourner Truth
addresses the privileges that many people believe
women should enjoy. She challenges the prevailing
notions of femininity and argues against the prevailing
stereotypes that suggest women are fragile or in need
of protection. Truth points out that many people expect
women to be treated delicately and sheltered from the
harsh realities of life. She emphasizes the disparity
between these expectations and the actual experiences
of many women, particularly African American women
who faced both racial and gender discrimination. Truth's
speech underscores the need to recognize and address
the injustices faced by women, regardless of race or
background.
• Identify two hardships that Sojourner Truth says
she has suffered.
• Physical Labor: Sojourner Truth mentions the
hardships of physical labor, stating, "I have
plowed and planted and gathered into barns,
and no man could head me! And ain't I a
woman?" Here, she highlights the physically
demanding work she has undertaken
traditionally associated with men.
• Loss of Children: Sojourner Truth also speaks
about the pain of losing her children, saying,
"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!" This emphasizes the
emotional suffering she endured due to the
separation from her children through slavery.
• What warning does Truth give just before
concluding the speech?
• Just before concluding her speech "Ain't I a Woman?",
Sojourner Truth issues a warning to those present. She
cautions the audience that the talk of women's rights
may not be well-received by some, particularly those
who oppose equality and justice. Truth expresses her
belief that the truth will ultimately prevail, despite
resistance, and encourages those fighting for women's
rights to continue their efforts steadfastly. She ends her
speech with a powerful affirmation of her identity and
resilience as a woman of strength and dignity.
What do you think of her style in writing?

Formal dictation Original dictation from the text

Ladies and gentlemen, where one
hears such pandemonium, one
suspects that something has gone
awry
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?
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.