Sojourner Truths Speech Text Ain't I a Woman Full Size

Sojourner Truths speech Ain't I a Woman delivered in 1851 at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio in my expanded series of orals by famous historical women. Also you will find on this page a short profile biography. 

This text is mainly based on the themes of abolition and women's rights. She was the voice of the American Black population in the history of abolitionism and feminism. A well-known public speaker who mixed advocated controversial and religious speech topics with humor.

She criticized woman suffrage and stereo type roles men preached females should have in life. Isabella Baumfree (her real birthname) presentation contains inspiring messages: 

I.    Women's rights. II.   Abolitionism. III.  Rights and education of the Black people. IV.  Moderation and self-restraining behavior. V.   Religion, in the last part of Sojourner Truths       speech.

Pay attention to the use of the repetition and narrative figure of storytelling in her beautiful telling. A perfect study example for student. The famous phrase Ain't I a woman? is based on the title Am I Not a Woman and a Sister? of an image of a kneeling female slave.

TEXT VIDEO

The famous extemporaneous address was delivered at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, 1851.
My complete transcription:



There are different versions of this oral history, according to Harriet Beecher Stowe, in the introduction to the autobiography The Narrative - a bestselling book.

Short Bio: Born around 1797 into slavery in Swartekill, New York as Isabella Baumfree. From 1843, she called herself the way we know her for some centuries now, meaning traveling preacher. Became a popular Methodist public speaker on American abolitionist and women's rights. Most people of her time agree that this plea for equal rights was absolutely outstanding as an improvised poetic-feel narrative of one of the great African-Americans in history.

She died after a long and moving life in which she inspires and encourages many young girls on November 26, 1883 and was buried in Battle Creek, Michigan.
There you can find more information.

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