Read Ain't I a Woman and answer the single question at the end:
Ainât I a Woman?
Sojourner Truth
Delivered 1851, Womenâs Rights Convention, Akron, Ohio
Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that âtwixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But whatâs all this here talking about?
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ainât I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ainât I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a manâwhen I could get itâand bear the lash as well! And ainât I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my motherâs grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ainât I a woman?
Then they talk about this thing in the head; whatâs this they call it? [member of audience whispers, âintellectâ] Thatâs it, honey. Whatâs that got to do with womenâs rights or negroesâ rights? If my cup wonât hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldnât you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?
Then that little man in black there, he says women canât have as much rights as men, âcause Christ wasnât a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ainât got nothing more to say.
1. Evaluate Sojourner Truthâs argument. Did she use valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence? Were you convinced?
Support your evaluation with textual evidence.