Blog 5

Sojourner Truth’s speech, “And Ain’t I A Woman?” was given at a women’s rights convention in 1851 in Akron Ohio (Sojourner). When people found out that she would be giving a speech that day at the convention, they were very angry and they all complained about it to the person who was in charge. Nobody wanted to hear the words of Sojourner Truth because they thought that since she was a black lady, instead of speaking about women’s rights, that she would speak about slavery and abolishing slavery.

When Sojourner approached the stage to speak, she was greeted with disapproval and people who did not want to hear what she had prepared. When Sojourner spoke, everybody’s mind was changed. Everyone became quiet and listened to what she was saying. Sojourner Truth’s speech was inspirational to everybody who heard it that day and it even brought tears to the eyes of the people in the audience. She shot down all the things that the men who were against women’s rights had been saying that day, including the thought that since Christ was a man, men should be superior to women.  “Whar did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothin' to do wid Him." (Sojourner).  The audience went crazy when Sojourner made her speech. She had said what all the women were thinking, but could not put into words.

Sojourner Truth believed in speaking her mind and saying and doing what she truly believes no matter what other people thought of her. For example, that day, even though she knew very well that nobody wanted to listen to her and nobody believed in her, she did what she came to do and she made her speech. I think that Sojourner and Emerson shared this belief. Emerson was a strong believer in individuality and saying and doing what is in your heart (Brugman). "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." (Brugman). This quote from Emerson sums up how he feels about the importance of doing and saying what you believe and I think that this is a belief that Emerson and Truth shared.

Bibliography

"Sojourner Truth Speeches Menu." Sojourner Truth.org. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

Truth, Sojourner. "Ain't I A Woman." Sojourner Truth.org. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

Brugman, Patricia. "Individual and Society in 'Self-Reliance'." McClinton-Temple, Jennifer ed. Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2011. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.