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Sojourner Truth Speech At The Women's Convention In 1851

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In this discussion assignment, I will be exploring the message behind Sojourner Truth’s speech that was delivered at the Women’s Convention in 1851. Before analyzing the speech, I would like to provide a brief background on who Sojourner Truth is. I find that her story is significant in understanding the impact of her words, particularly considering the time in American history that she existed.

Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women's activist who lived from 1797 to 1883. She descended from Africans who were captured from the Gold Coast (also known as Ghana) (Estoric, n.d.). She was sold multiple times throughout her childhood, and upon marriage and having children, she escaped with her infant in 1826 (Estoric, n.d.). …show more content…

A core aspect of this speech that stood out to me was how she rebuked common talking points made by men and the patriarchal society trying to justify a woman’s powerlessness in society. She stated how men claim that women have to be carried everywhere, lifted into carriages, and taken to the “best place” because they are weak (Truth, 1851). However, no man has helped her up a carriage, carried her, or taken her to the “best place” (Truth, 1851). She follows this up by asking “Ain’t I a woman?”. She then exclaimed how her arms are strong enough to plow and farm, and no man could “head” her (Truth, 1851). Again, she follows this by asking “Ain’t I a woman?” (Truth, …show more content…

Sojourner’s use of rhetorical questions left a strong impression on me because she guided the audience into realizing the biases and baseless news of many of the prejudices in society. The following is an excerpt from her speech that I felt was vital to relay the power she displayed in her

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To persuade the thought of a fresh civilization, Sojourner Truth's applies repetition of the rhetorical question "Ain't I a woman? " This proposal jabs at men's cruel demeanor and strengthens the call to action for women. The orator recites this question multiple times to forge an influential stance and to stress her message that women are as capable as men. In response, the advocated crowd reflects on Truth's demand and displays a call to action against the prejudice society.

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(Grimke, 191) Three words, shouted over the din outside, are an especially effective way to turn listeners’ heads because they focus on a group most previous speakers - at that convention and in the entire abolitionist movement - had left behind. Grimke’s demand for action did not simply include women but was exclusively addressed to them, which was an unexpected and somewhat shocking choice to an audience who expected male-oriented speeches. This gains the interest of various distracted listeners through shock factor and engages women specifically through the promise of advice for fighting slavery

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Ain’t I a woman is an amazing piece, I love it more each time I read it. It amazes me that someone who people called illiterate, knew so very well how to work the crowd. Within this speech you’ll find that she uses rhetorical questions and repetition to rebut opposing arguments;

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In her speech she is not only fighting for the rights of women, but also introducing that black women and other people should be treated with the same rights and respects. She mentions the carriage example and how women should be lifted into them and should be assisted when walking over puddles. Sojourner says how no one has ever helped her and she is a working woman who deserves to be treated like that. She works in the man’s field and yet is shown no respect. She repeatedly says “ain’t I a woman” to emphasize that although she is colored she deserves to fight along with the other women for

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Has someone ever proved you wrong on your first impression of him or her? Imagine that small kid in the back of class that never spoke a whisper, you would never imagine that he or she would speak on all of the things they observed in their silence. That is what sojourner truth did with the speech she recited at the women’s right convention in 1851. Truth did not just write down her feelings and thoughts on a pad without planning or coordination. Truth lied this speech out with rhetorical devices to create multiple effects effect on the audience using pathos, ethos, allusions, etc.

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Sojourner Truth is amongst one of the most popular and inspirational African American female freedom fighters. Originally born Isabella, Sojourner Truth was separated from her family at young age due the structure of transatlantic slavery. She was a victim of harsh slavery, where her strength was exploited and she was subjects to extreme punishments. Even in the mist of her circumstance, she managed to find happiness through her four children which she had while enslaved; once she was freed she even successfully sued for the freedom of one of her children. Though Sojourner Truth never learned to read and write, she proved to that women were essential to the growth and development of the United Stated and African American people

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Sojourner Truth, a runaway slave, became an influential figure in both women’s societies and the abolitionist movement. In her famous speech, “Ain’t I a women?”, Truth argues that she is more oppressed as a woman than as a slave (Doc 7). While she campaigned publicly for women’s civil rights, others attempted to reform society from within their religious

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Truth is powerful and it prevails, as did Sojourner Truth. The feminist and abolitionist leader deserves to be commemorated with a monument. The ex-slave and mother of 5 was a traveling preacher and the first female, African-American abolitionist speaker. The prominent activist became famous when she filed a lawsuit fighting for her son who had been illegally sold into slavery, and won, resulting in her becoming the first African-American woman to win a court case against a white man. She was then recruited as a lecturer on the anti-slavery circuit, earning a reputation as a powerful speaker for abolition and women’s rights.

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She declares in a confident manner, "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?" (Truth). Earlier, Truth played on emotions to appeal to the female audience. She focuses more on logic and reason to disprove the idea that women are objectively weaker than men in order to convince the male audience.

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She makes her argument by emotionally transmitting her views to her audience, who are mostly women. She delivers a strong message by explaining from her memories. 2. I think that the audience, mainly men, disagreed with Truth’s message and women supported it. I think that because many men believed that women’s rights are limited and lead to controversies.

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The state of New York emancipated all slaves on July 4, 1827. One of her sons should have been freed because of the emancipation, but was stolen and sold into slavery in Alabama. After this, Sojourner took this to court, and won the case against her son’s new owner. She herself should have been freed, but when her owner would

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Through time there were those remembered for their success and contribution to changes in U.S. history. And one of these known people is Sojourner Truth which have been through challenges throughout her life since birth but had ease at her late years left. Sojourner Truth’s contribution to how she escaped slavery and started to fight for her rights caused an attraction to be known and heard by everyone. Of her first master she had no memory of him since he had passed when she was still an infant. And at the time the group of people she was with including her family, became the legal property of his son, Charles Ardinburgh.

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Sojourner Truth's contributions to American history are immense, yet her name and legacy are not as widely recognized as they should be. Her tireless efforts in the fight against slavery and her pioneering work in the women's rights movement deserve greater acknowledgment. Sojourner Truth's bravery, resilience, and commitment to justice serve as an inspiration to social justice

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“Remarkable independence and courageous self-assertion,” as so eloquently spoken by abolitionist Frederick Douglass of Sojourner Truth (qtd. in Kort). This woman, admired by Douglass and nearly all, lived up to this description throughout her entire life. She embodied many traits that Americans strive to obtain such as faith, strength, and a fearless grasp on justice. Truth didn’t heed anyone else’s orders and refused to accept what a black person or a woman “should be.” Sojourner Truth spent her early life as a slave, born Isabella Hardenbergh, and she worked just as hard as many men (Helmer).

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She devoted her life to change her community’s status, perception, and lives. Dedicated to the advancement of her people, she excelled as an abolitionist during her time. By staying grounded in her Christian faith, Sojourner Truth was able to impact the lives of African Americans not only while she was alive, but also into the next century. As we think about her impact in her history, slavery and women’s equality changed through her unique contributions to

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