Sojourner Truth "Ain't I A Woman"

For National Women’s Equality Day ESSENCE honors abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth.

Transcript

01:00That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches

01:21and to have the best place everywhere.

01:23Nobody ever helps me into carriages or over mud puddles or gives me any best place.

01:31And ain't I a woman?

01:33Look at me.

01:35Look at my arm.

01:37I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me.

01:43And ain't I a woman?

01:45I could work as much and eat as much as a man when I could get it and bear the lash as well.

01:52And ain't I a woman?

01:54I have born 13 children and seen most all sold off to slavery.

01:59And when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me.

02:04And ain't I a woman?

02:06I'm a woman?

02:07I'm a woman.