Ain't I a Woman?
CommonLit Companions - “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth (1851) is in the public domain.
CommonLit Companions
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was an African American women's rights activist and abolitionist who fought to end slavery. Truth was born into slavery but escaped to freedom in 1826. "Ain't I a Woman?" is her most famous speech, which she delivered without preparation at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851. Two versions of Truth's speech exist today. The original version of the speech, which appears below, was transcribed by an attendant of Truth's speech, Marius Robinson. Truth collaborated with Robinson on the transcription before it was published. The second version, which is viewed as an inaccurate representation of Truth's speech, was transcribed by Frances Dana Gage who did not collaborate with Truth before its publication in 1863 and 1881. As you read, take notes on what evidence Truth presents to support her claim that women should have equal rights.
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 can't take more than our pint'll hold.
The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don't 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 won't be so much trouble.
I can't 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.
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 can't take more than our pint'll hold.
The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don't 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 won't be so much trouble.
I can't 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.