Sojourner Truth’s Speech Ain’t I A Woman

Table of Contents

Analysis of “Ain’t i a woman”

Connecting with your audience

Figures of Speech

In conclusion,

Sojourner truth talks in her speech “Ain’t I a Woman”, about the injustices that women of color and women experienced during the 1800s. This speech is famous because it was a powerful tool for women who were trying to gain equal rights with men at that time. Analyzing her rhetorical strategy, I can tell if she’s successful. Sojourner Truth uses emotional connections to connect emotionally with her audience, especially mothers and minority groups. She uses figurative and rhetorical language, as well as repetition of questions. She also uses Bible references to appeal to Christians. “Ain’t a Woman” AnalyseDuring the 1800s, women and especially African American women had a difficult time. Slavery, unfair working conditions, discrimination in the workplace, and lack of rights for women were all part of life during this time. Sojourner truth, a woman’s right activist and African-American abolitionist, helped women gain their rights in 1851. She was born as a slave in 1797. She died on November 26,1883, at the age 86. She was a leading figure in women’s movements and during the civil war. In 1826 her new life began when she escaped with her newborn daughter from slavery. Sojourner was the first black female to win an appeal against a male white in 1828. After this, she moved to rural areas and claimed that God had asked her to tell her story. She delivered many well-known speeches in her lifetime. She even recruited black troops for Union soldiers during the Civil War. In 1851, George Thompson was abolitionist who spoke on a lecture trip. It was during this tour that she gave her famous speech, in Akron Ohio. She was chosen to speak for her role as a representative of the minority. She encouraged African Americans, who were or are slaves today, to speak out. She set a great example to women in her role as an ex-slave, a mother, a preacher. She spoke at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention about equal rights, which included African American woman. She gave her speech in the hope that it would allow all women to finally receive their rights. It could have been a constraint to keep the speech short and direct or not criticize white men excessively. Her audience included locals and people from other countries. Even newspaper reporters were there. This essay aims to assess how effective Sojourner Truth’s rhetorical strategies were in her speech. Connecting to AudienceEthos She uses her credibility of a slave by using ethos in order to reach out to minorities. She shares her experiences and provides examples of how she’s been treated. “…Look! My arm! She says that she has ploughed the ground, planted crops, and even gathered them into barns …”. “…and she also endured the lash !…”. Her credibility as mother is also enhanced by her sharing of her personal life. She says, “I am a mother of thirteen children who has seen many sold into slavery …”. This statement connects her with moms in the crowd. Sojourner uses pathos throughout her essay in order to reach out to everyone. She was able to connect with minorities, Christians, men, and mothers. She uses examples from her own life to get an emotional reaction. She says “I grew up with thirteen children and have seen them all sold into slavery. No one but Jesus has heard my cries of grief for my mother.” Sojourner truth uses a powerful life example to inspire the women of color in the audience. The women who sold their children to slavery are those who should be held accountable. Her speech is a way to reach out to the Christians. She begins by asking “Where was your Christ born?” and ends with “From God, and a woman!” She hopes that by saying that Christ was made from a female, they will realize the importance of women and their role in making Christ. She adds, “If the first woman God made could turn the world around all on her own, then I believe these women can do the same …”

She gave Christian women in her audience a sense that they could have hope. She makes the women in her audience appear independent and strong, as if they were capable of achieving equal rights. She also makes them feel sorry for herself. She asks the question “If you’re cup only holds a half-measure and mine is a full measure, would it not be rude to refuse me my small portion?” She does this to provoke an emotional reaction from the men. In her speech, she uses personal stories to show how similar the two men are. She says “Look me!” My arm! I have planted, ploughed the ground, and collected into barns. A man couldn’t top me. “And ain’t you a woman?” She answers, giving a vivid illustration and showing them. If slave owners knew colored women could not perform, they would not have bought them. Sojourner Truth shows that women can work as hard as men. She connects with the men by showing how she works like any other man. She refers to white men as enemies in her speech. She says that “I think between the blacks in the South talking about equal rights and the northern women, the whites will be in a bad situation pretty soon.” She hopes that this will bring women together to fight the whites for equal justice. She ends by making the women more confident and relating to Eve. She ends her speech with the powerful words “If God made the first woman strong enough to flip the world upside-down all by herself, then these women should be able turn it around and put it right again!” Her powerful move is to tell men that women should have their rights. She says “And now that they are asking for it, men better let them.”

Truth is a powerful statement that ends her speech. It empowers women and gives them confidence. Men are surprised by her courage. Women, especially those of color, were viewed as inferior to men at the time. Her statement may have caused some people to feel offended. This was an effective but risky move. Sojourner makes a what-if statement by saying “…he said women couldn’t have the same rights men do, because Christ wasn’t female! She asks then where their Christ originated and replies “From God AND a Woman!” She makes them wonder if they are right. She wants people to question what they believe and see that women matter and should be treated with respect. Rhetorical ToolsIn Sojourners Speech, a Man says “…that Women need to be Helped into Carriages, Lifted over Ditches, And to Have the Best Place Everywhere.” Sojourner Responds “Nobody Ever Helps Me into Carriages, Over mud-puddles Or Gives Me Any Best Place! “And ain’t I a lady?” She says, contradicting the man’s statement. Sojourner uses juxtaposition in order to show that women are not treated as the man says they should. Men walk over them and don’t let them have any say. They aren’t treated the way he claims. In fact, they’re treated worse because of their lack of recognition and the discrimination that men would be forced to give them. Sojourner Truth makes a comparison between herself and men by using a metaphor. She said, “I’d be able to work and eat like a man …”.” This was in an attempt to convince men that women are just like men. She wants to show men that they are not alone in their desire to eat and work hard. She also uses biblical references to reach a personal level of religion throughout her speech. She also tells them that God’s first creation, the woman, changed the direction of mankind. This is why women are able to make a similar change. She finishes with a bible reference, perhaps because she’s a speaker and knew that most people would find it more powerful. Anaphora was another effective tool she used. She repeatedly repeated “And I’m a woman”. This is a way of making her listeners believe that she is entitled to equal rights. Sojourner loves being a powerful woman. She is capable of things men wouldn’t believe. She uses it to end sentences, when she’s trying to prove that she’s just as capable as a man. She says this phrase every time to make the women feel that they are also entitled to equal rights. She talks about how she’s equal to men in terms of strength and capability, and she wants women to feel the same way. She uses imagery in her speech to help the reader see her life. She can make people feel more moved by using more details. She talked about being treated like a woman and then getting a lash. She tells how she saw her children sold to slavery and was grieved. Sojourner added that Eve had done something extraordinary and changed the world to her liking. She also uses hyperbole to make the women feel empowered and hopeful by Eve. Sojourner Truth was able to use multiple rhetorical tactics in order to engage and convey a powerful message during the Women’s Rights Convention. She fulfilled her obligation to discuss the gender and race-based discrimination women suffered in the 1800s. This motivated women to stand up and fight for the rights they deserve. Her speech ended by successfully motivating women to demand change.

Author

  • spencerknight

    I'm Spencer Knight, a 29-year-old educational blogger and teacher. I write about a variety of topics related to education, from teaching strategies to student success stories. I hope to help others achieve their educational goals and help them develop a lifelong love of learning.

spencerknight

spencerknight

I'm Spencer Knight, a 29-year-old educational blogger and teacher. I write about a variety of topics related to education, from teaching strategies to student success stories. I hope to help others achieve their educational goals and help them develop a lifelong love of learning.

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