Rhetorical Analysis "Ain't I a Woman" Sojourner Truth

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Sojourner Truth was a nineteenth-century African American evangelist who embraced abolitionism and women's rights. A charismatic speaker, she became one of the best-known abolitionists of her day. Born a slave and given the name Isabella Baumfree, she was freed in 1828 when a New York law abolished slavery within the state.

In 1843 she had a religious experience and came to believe that God had commanded her to travel beyond New York to spread the Christian gospel. She took the name Sojourner Truth and traveled throughout the eastern states as an evangelist. Truth soon became acquainted with the abolitionist movement and its leaders.

Her most famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" was first given in 1851, at a women's rights convention in Akron, Ohio.
Prior to her speech, male speakers had argued in favor of men’s superior rights and privileges on the grounds of their superior intellect and the manhood of Christ.

Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Truth makes to achieve her purpose.

In your response you should do the following:
• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.
• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

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? 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.