Ain't I a woman?

This is not a song, but i think it's worth the sharing =]

I did a lot of research on Sojourner Truth (birth name:Isabella Baumfree) back in middle school and high school. While everyone chose Martin Luther King Jr., I chose her. I don't remember much about her biography, but I remember she did some amazing things for both women and blacks rights. In a way, she was someone I wanted to model after. In DOC (my writing class) a couple of days ago, my professor showed this video. I got really excited and it woke me up from my half-sleep (yes, sadly I sleep in class D:). It was the first time I heard this speech and I was really really happy that I got to read it last week. You can see a lot of her personality in this piece of writing. I can see that she was a funny, smart, strong, confident, and independent Christian. I think she was really clever with this speech. Alice Walker, the person reading the speech, is the author of the book, The Color Purple (i don't know how to underline this book title). I never read it, but I did see some parts of the film. Whoopi Goldberg acted well in this film. I think it is about how black women were abused in the past (*shrugs*). Enjoy!

"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."