Sojourner Truth's 'Ain T I A Woman?'

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“Ain’t I a Woman?” was a speech given in 1851 among many others that were being delivered at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech given was presented by Sojourner Truth, a former Negro slave. She took a stand and spoke out against the arguments of women being inferior to men because of how they were made and because Christ was a man. In her speech, she repeatedly asks the question, “Ain’t I a Woman?” and speaks in a Southern dialect, leaving readers who look back on her speech, puzzled. A Southern dialect is not the typical language of a New Yorker. In fact, it’s most commonly the complete opposite. So why did the author choose to use this? After some research, I found that the author chose to use Southern dialect and low …show more content…
Truth uses repetition of this phrase to build the intensity of her speech and to continue to show that she is a woman who deserves her rights. As a slave, she has performed the work of man, and she has cleaned and gave birth like a woman. “Ain’t I a Woman?” emphasizes all the points and ideas she presents. Truth also uses rhetorical questions like “But what’s all this here talking about?” “Where did your Christ come from?” etc. This allows people at the convention along with the readers viewing her speech years later, to think and wonder. Truth then follows her questions with answers adding just a little more detail into the speech and onto the mood. Lastly, Truth also uses metaphors, the comparison of unlike things without like or as. In the third paragraph, Truth says “If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?” Truth throws this in there to point out that Negro women already have few rights as citizens, yet the people that have more rights and more opportunities for great things are determined to take away what little those women

Sojourner Truth's Ain T I A Woman

"Ain't I a Woman," a speech given by Sojourner Truth at a women's right to vote convention, In this speech she is making a case for women's rights by decimating the arguments put forth by all the speakers who came before her on the podium. Sojourner Truth makes three arguments while she is at the podium. Her first argument she argues to a man who had man spoke before her. The man claims that women are too fragile to bear the burden and responsibility of voting. Sojourner Truth says “Nobody…

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Sojourner Truth's Ain T I A Woman

“ Ain’t I a Woman” Sojourner Truth’s purpose is to persuade her audience that women don’t get treated fairly during her time, and didn't have as much power as men. Do you wonder how women felt during 1820s, could you handle living then when some higher class women get treated better than you. In “Ain’t I a Woman” Sojourner Truth in paragraph 2 she talks about how nobody ever helps her or looks after. That’s how women felt then any ethics , they got mistreated by men in any kind of form. It’s said…

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Sojourner Truth's Ain T I A Woman

Sojourner Truth’s words rang through the room as those who were empathetic towards the abhorrent mistreatment of women listened with intent. After her liberation from slavery, Truth took on the endeavor of permeating principles of gender equality. Consequently, in Salem, Ohio on June 21, 1851 Sojourner Truth gave her eternally powerful speech “Ain’t I a Woman” at the Women’s Rights Convention. Sojourner Truth’s magnificently towering words convey the absurdities of sexism to raise awareness and accord…

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An Analysis Of Sojourner Truth's Ain T I A Woman

In 1851 at the Women’s Right Convention in Ohio, Sojourner Truth gave an outstanding speech about women’s rights to an audience of men and women alike. It was a short, but masterful oration and is still referenced to this day. This iconic speech was named “Ain’t I a Woman?” One of the reasons Truth’s speech was so influential was due to her ability to utilize the modes of persuasion, Logos, Ethos, and Pathos throughout her work. For example Truth applies Logos, an appeal to a person’s logic, in…

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Analysis Of Sojourner Truth's Speech 'Ain T I A Woman?'

display women as inferior beings especially African American women. Sojourner Truth’s speech Ain’t I a Woman? portrays women as strong and independent people that can handle themselves through various situations such as being threatened by brute force or having to take care of their families on a fixed income. She goes in depth with having equal rights for African American women that white women have the opportunity to have. Overall Truth’s speech speaks to every type of women which allows her to give…

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Analysis Of Sojourner Truth's Speech 'Ain T I A Woman?'

that someone who is illiterate can produce a compelling and inspiring speech. However, despite her illiteracy, in Sojourner Truth’s speech, Ain’t I a Woman?, Truth delivers an awe-inspiring speech on human rights. In her original 1851 version, she talks about injustice and the lack of rights women face in society. She begins her speech by getting right on message. She begins by saying, “I am a woman’s rights”. This statement implies that she is a feminist and is fighting for equality of the sexes. Following…

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Rhetorical Power In Sojourner Truth's Ain T I A Woman

In the original speech by Sojourner Truth's, Ain’t I a Woman (I am a woman’s rights), Truth uses many different ways to influence her audience such as pathos and logos. I believe the original speech has more rhetorical power because of these influences. She explains how women are as strong, intelligent, and spiritual as men. First Truth exclaims “I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that” In the sentence Truth uses logos to persuade her audience…

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