Black Poetry : Ain't I A Woman?

Jackee

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REGISTERED MEMBER
Dec 6, 2006
24
3
East Coast
Ain't I A Woman?
by Sojourner Truth
Delivered 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio


Well, children, where there is so much racket
there must be something out of kilter.
I think that 'twixt 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 what's 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 ain't 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 ain't I a woman?
I could work as much and eat as much as a man
- when I could get it
and bear the lash as well!
And ain't I a woman?
I have borne thirteen children,
and seen most all sold off to slavery,
and when I cried out with my mother's grief,
none but Jesus heard me!
And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head;
what's this they call it?
[member of audience whispers, "intellect".
That's it, honey.
What's that got to do with women's rights
or negroes' rights?
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?

Then that little man in black there,
he says women can't have as much rights as men,
'cause Christ wasn't 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 ain't got nothing more to say.
 

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