Ain't I A Woman?

[Equipoise]

First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, along with actress Cicely Tyson unveiled a statue of Sojourner Truth at the Capitol Visitors Center today. It will be on permanent display there.

Photos and Article.

First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday reflected on her own family’s rise from slavery to the White House as she helped to unveil a statue of abolitionist Sojourner Truth _ the first black woman to be so honored at the Capitol.

“I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the first lady of the United States of America,” Mrs. Obama said to loud applause at a ceremony at the Capitol Visitor Center.

An early crusader for women’s rights to vote who also for an end to slavery, Truth met presidents Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and Ulysses S. Grant in 1870, and delivered her signature “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at a women’s rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. She tried to vote on two occasions, but was turned away both times. She died in November 1883 at her home in Battle Creek, Mich.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Truth wouldn’t remain for long the only black woman honored with a statue in the Capitol because a statue of civil rights icon Rosa Parks will soon be placed there.

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Sojourner Truth’s speech to the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1851:

**

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. **

Damn that makes me cry, every time I read it.

[Merneith]

One great, glorious hell of a woman.

[Equipoise]

I’d love to see a movie made about her life.

Here’s a short video of some of Michelle’s remarks.

[Sigmagirl]

There is a plaque at the site of that speech in Akron. I have driven and walked past it a thousand times.

[Sailboat]

Magnificent.

[Equipoise]

@Sigmagirl

There is a plaque at the site of that speech in Akron. I have driven and walked past it a thousand times.

Thank you for the picture of the plaque Sigmagirl. It brought tears to my eyes to see that the site of a speech was honored in such a way. I would have been puzzled, until I read the speech.
I was hoping to find a video of Cicely Tyson re-creating the speech but haven’t found one yet. I did find several others.

My favorites (so far),

Poet Alice Walker (has flaws, but I like her reading best. It’s quiet and powerful)
Actress Alfre Woodard (great, but too firebrand. I don’t think Truth was a firebrand)
Actress Kerry Washington (very good, but she’s too cheeky. Truth wouldn’t have talked like a modern day girlfriend. Tiny trivia, Viggo Mortensen is sitting on stage too)
Unknown (very good, but again too firebrand)
Maya Angelou (this would be my favorite after Alice, but it’s not the whole speech)
A kid (generally good reading but it’s kinda creepy because she would have no idea what some of these concepts are)

Here’s Kim Russell reading snippets of this and other speeches by Sourjourner Truth. (too scary! but it’s interesting to hear some of the other speeches. Love the streetcar ruse at the end!)

This isn’t spoken, and it’s not Ain’t I A Woman, but it’s still good.

[NinjaChick]

@Merneith

One great, glorious hell of a woman.

Absolutely. She’s been recognized other places, but she sure as hell deserves it.

Also, Ain’t I a Woman has been co-opted as the title of a fantastic anthology of women’s poetry, which is absolutely worth picking up should you ever run across a copy of it.

[Equipoise]

@Equipoise

Sourjourner Truth.

GAH!! I do know how to spell her name, really. Silly typo. Teach me to preview.