“Ain’t I A Woman?”

A Celebration of Women’s Equality Day

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified and declared part of the U.S. Constitution, finally giving women the right to vote.

It was a victory for most American women and the end result of hard work by suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Burns, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Although the 19th Amendment did not benefit African American women in the South due to Jim Crow laws, African Americans — Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, et al. — were instrumental to its success.

In 1973, President Nixon signed a bill introduced by Congresswoman Bella Abzug declaring August 26th to be Women’s Equality Day.

In honor of all women, we are providing the transcript (based on various reports) of the most famous speech by Sojourner Truth, a former slave who rose to be one of our nation’s most important abolitionists and suffragists. It was delivered on May 29, 1851, at a Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

AIN’T I A WOMAN?

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be somethin' out of kilter. I think that 'twixt de niggers 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 say ‘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 them 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?

As for intellect, all I can say is, what’s that got to do with women's rights or nigger's rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yourn holds a quart, wouldn't ye 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? From God and a woman! Man had nothin' 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 are asking to do it, the men better let them.

Blessed to ye for hearin' on me, and now ole Sojourner han't got nothin' more to say.

—DK