SOJOURNER TRUTH
..., but Frances Gage, an abolitionist and president of the convention recounted Truths words “Ain’t I a woman?” made a great impact at the convention and has become a classic expression of Women’s rights. Several ministers attended the second day of the Women’s right convention, and were not shy in voicing their opinion of men superiority over women. Suddenly Sojourner rose from her seat in the corner of the church and walked to the podium and asked may I have a few words? And with a affirmative answer she proceeded and slowly took off her sunbonnet. Her six-foot frame towered over the audience. And began to speak in her deep resonant voice: “Well, children, where there is so much racket, there must be something out of kilter, I think between the Negroes of the South and the women of the North- all talking about rights- the white men will be in a fix pretty soon?” Sojourner pointed to one of the ministers. “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and have the best place everywhere. Nobody helps me any best place. And ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner raised to her full height. “Look at me! Look at my arm.” She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. “I have plowed, I have planted and I have gathered into barns. And no man could head me. And ain’t I a woman?” “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? I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mothers grief, none but jesus heard me. And ain’t I a woman?” The women in the audience began to cheer wildly. She pointed to another minister. “He talks about this thing in the head. What’s that they call it?” “Intellect” a woman whispered nearby. “As for intellect, all I can say is, if woman have a pint and a man a quart--why can’t she have her little pint full? You need not to ...