Context(notapartofthetext):Bornintoslaveryin1797,IsabellaBaumfree,who

laterchangedhernametoSojournerTruth,wouldbecomeoneofthemost
powerfuladvocatesforhumanrightsinthenineteenthcentury.Around1815she
fellinlovewithafellowslavenamedRobert,buttheywereforcedapartby
Robertsmaster.IsabellawasinsteadforcedtomarryaslavenamedThomas,
withwhomshehadfivechildren.
In1827,afterhermasterfailedtohonorhispromisetofreeherortoupholdthe
NewYorkAntiSlaveryLawof1827,Isabellaranaway,or,asshelaterinformed
hermaster,Ididnotrunaway,Iwalkedawaybydaylight.Afterexperiencing
areligiousconversion,Isabellabecameanitinerantpreacherandin1843
changedhernametoSojournerTruth.Duringthisperiodshebecameinvolvedin
thegrowingantislaverymovement,andbythe1850sshewasinvolvedinthe
womansrightsmovementaswell.Atthe1851WomensRightsConventionheld
inAkron,Ohio,SojournerTruthdeliveredwhatisnowrecognizedasoneofthe
mostfamousabolitionistandwomensrightsspeechesinAmericanhistory,Aint
IaWoman?ShecontinuedtospeakoutfortherightsofAfricanAmericansand
womenduringandaftertheCivilWar.SojournerTruthdiedinBattleCreek,
Michigan,in1883.

SojournerTruth(17971883):Ain'tIAWoman?
Delivered1851Women'sConvention,Akron,Ohio
Well,children,wherethereissomuchrackettheremustbesomethingoutof
kilter.Ithinkthat'twixtthenegroesoftheSouthandthewomenattheNorth,all
talkingaboutrights,thewhitemenwillbeinafixprettysoon.Butwhat'sallthis
heretalkingabout?
Thatmanovertheresaysthatwomenneedtobehelpedintocarriages,andlifted
overditches,andtohavethebestplaceeverywhere.Nobodyeverhelpsmeinto
carriages,orovermudpuddles,orgivesmeanybestplace!Andain'tIa
woman?Lookatme!Lookatmyarm!Ihaveploughedandplanted,and
gatheredintobarns,andnomancouldheadme!Andain'tIawoman?Icould
workasmuchandeatasmuchasamanwhenIcouldgetitandbearthelash
aswell!Andain'tIawoman?Ihavebornethirteenchildren,andseenmostall
soldofftoslavery,andwhenIcriedoutwithmymother'sgrief,nonebutJesus
heardme!Andain'tIawoman?
Thentheytalkaboutthisthingintheheadwhat'sthistheycallit?[memberof
audiencewhispers,"intellect"]That'sit,honey.What'sthatgottodowith
women'srightsornegroes'rights?Ifmycupwon'tholdbutapint,andyours
holdsaquart,wouldn'tyoubemeannottoletmehavemylittlehalfmeasure
full?
Thenthatlittlemaninblackthere,hesayswomencan'thaveasmuchrightsas
men,'causeChristwasn'tawoman!WheredidyourChristcomefrom?Where
didyourChristcomefrom?FromGodandawoman!Manhadnothingtodowith
Him.
IfthefirstwomanGodevermadewasstrongenoughtoturntheworldupside
downallalone,thesewomentogetheroughttobeabletoturnitback,andgetit
rightsideupagain!Andnowtheyisaskingtodoit,themenbetterletthem.

Obligedtoyouforhearingme,andnowoldSojournerain'tgotnothingmoreto
say.