Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Prep: Read Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” (Ch.3, p.170); (attached as PDF).
And watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdyU3tRJO5A

Background: Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in the late 1700s and escaped in 1826. In 1851, she gave an extemporaneous speech—now called “Ain’t I a Woman?”—at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. In your Norton Reader, there are two versions of this short speech, neither written down by Truth, but both transcribed by people who were present at her speech. Slaves were denied literacy, so we don’t have Sojourner Truth’s written words. The different versions of the speech are both a legacy of slavery and proof that people’s recollections differ—as do their purposes in reporting what someone else allegedly said. It’s important to honor both Truth’s reputation and historical accuracy. Although the 1863 version with the refrain “Ain’t I a Woman?” is more popular, it includes inaccuracies that many historians have noted: Truth was from New York, a native speaker of Dutch, who prided herself on her English, so she probably wouldn’t have used the Southern colloquialisms reflected in that version. She also did not have thirteen children (or as many sold into slavery). As you discuss, consider both the textual features and the historical context of this speech.

Consider and respond to the following in a minimum of fifteen sentences:
Sojourner Truth uses both comparison and contrast to develop her speech. How does she compare herself to a man? In what ways does she believe she is not like a man? What do these similarities and differences tell us about how she understands gender and her own identity within the constructs and confines of identity?

If you’re comfortable sharing*, consider a similar speech you would like to give, one that supports the rights of an underrepresented or underprivileged group. What would the title of your speech be?

Style: Not applicable for this assignment.