African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth, in her speech “Ain’t I a woman?” addressed her view on women’s rights. Truth’s purpose was to advocate equal rights of men and women, specifically African American women. She expressed a passionate tone that conveyed the utter importance to the cause of women’s rights. Throughout her speech, she repeated the phrase “Ain’t I a woman?” putting emphasis on each point she made. Truth saying, “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 could 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? She repeatedly states the question “ain’t I a woman?” That one phrase caused the audience to think and brought attention to her point with more influence every time she said it. Later on during her speech Truth alluded to the Bible. She asked the rhetorical question, “Where did your God come from?” and answers with “From God and a Woman! Men had nothing to do with Him.” Nobody even thought of the woman who was most important in being the mother to the baby who became the savior of the people. This enhanced the intensity of the speech and inspired the audience.
“Ain’t I a Woman?” was short and to the point, but very convincing and powerful. Truth said