Sojourner Truth

Amanda Onalaja

September 28, 2009

Pd. 2 – Ms. Brown

Sojourner Truth was a strong willed abolitionist. Born Isabella Baumfree, she clung to her well known title after a religious experience. From then on she expressed the lack of African American and women’s rights. The speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” addressed to a Women’s Rights Convention contradicted assumptions regarding gender and the “roles” of women. In her speech, Truth appeals to ethos and pathos with powerful examples and fiery emotion.

There are supposedly two accounts of “Ain’t I a Woman?”, one written by Truth herself and a revised version crafted by Frances Gage nearly 30 years later. The message in both accounts are the same, however the change in syntax truly appeals to Truth’s credibility. In one version the dialect is that of a black woman of her time, “I tink dat ‘twixt de niggers of de Souf and de womin at de Nork…”. In the other, “I think that ‘twixt the negroes of the South and the women of the North…”. The change in syntax illustrates two woman, one educated and well-known of the English language, the other somewhat illiterate, but still knowledgeable. The question being which one can be labeled as Truth’s work. If the broken English is hers, it displays how proud Truth is to be a black woman. She was able to renounce social barriers and express herself in her natural tongue while still keeping its flame. However, if it’s not Truth’s work and was written by Frances Gage, what was she trying to prove? That Truth’s speech should have been displayed in that form? In it’s raw state, unlike the proper standards written by their society? It’s obvious there’s a high level of pride in the authors.

Other examples of ethos are her relations to woman and religion. She “pints out” the minister and contradicts views that women are less equal because Christ was a man. “Where did Christ come from … From God and a woman”, she states. Her biblical evidence can’ be counted out, especially amongst Christians. Jesus was birthed by Mary, a woman; Truth argues that Man, who had no involvement, shouldn’t be considered better than Woman. She continues using Eve as an example, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down, all alone…”, this reference is almost the climax of the speech. She makes a very critical point, woman are capable of many things.

Aside from creditability, the speech appeals to ethos because of emotional responses it targets, “I have borne thirteen children and seen them almost all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard”. It would take a strong will to suffer some of the torment she endured. Her strive and determination entices her audience, as clearly expressed through the side notes of the speech.