ain’t I a woman?

On October 11, 2006 / By maggi dawn / Reply

I get asked pretty often to comment on the place of women in the church.  It’s not an issue that I pursue from an academic point of view, although I’ve read loads of the relevant literature and wrote a few papers on it back in the early 90’s.  An older, wiser woman once said to me that there were two choices with this stuff – you could either talk about the place of women, and make that your project, or you could choose another project and just bash down the resistance and take your place in the world, but you can’t do both. To be good enough, she said, (in the Church especially) to make any impact you have to be at least as good as the best of the men. And the likelihood is you’ll be raising kids and running a home at the same time. SO that doesn’t leave any spare time for being a part-time expert on feminism. Instead of commenting on feminism, therefore, I’m going to let one of the great heroes of the women’s movement say it, in her famous words from a century-and-a half ago. I’ve posted this once before – back in 2003 I think – but these are words that bear another visit.

Sojourner Truth gave her famous "Ain’t I a Woman?" speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. (The women’s rights movement grew in large part out of the anti-slavery movement.) No formal record of the speech exists, but Frances Gage, an abolitionist and president of the Convention, recounted Truth’s words. There is debate about the accuracy of this account because Gage did not record the account until 1863 and her record differs somewhat from newspaper accounts of 1851. However it is Gage’s report that endures and it is clear that, whatever the exact words, "Ain’t I a Woman?" made a great impact at the Convention and has become a classic expression of women’s rights.

The Classic Report
Several ministers attended the second day of the Woman’s Rights Convention, and were not shy in voicing their opinion of man’s superiority over women. One claimed "superior intellect", one spoke of the "manhood of Christ," and still another referred to the "sin of our first mother." Suddenly, Sojourner Truth rose from her seat in the corner of the church.

"For God’s sake, Mrs.Gage, don’t let her speak!" half a dozen women whispered loudly, fearing that their cause would be mixed up with Abolition. Sojourner walked to the podium and slowly took off her sunbonnet. Her six-foot frame towered over the audience. She began to speak in her deep, resonant voice: "Well, children, where there is so much racket, there must be something out of kilter, I think between the Negroes of the South and the women of the North – all talking about rights – the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this talking about?"

Sojourner pointed to one of the ministers. "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 helps me any best place. And ain’t I a woman?"

Sojourner raised herself to her full height. "Look at me! Look at my arm." She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. "I have plowed, I have planted and I have 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 man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain’t I a woman?"

The women in the audience began to cheer wildly.

She pointed to another minister. "He talks about this thing in the head. What’s that they call it?"

"Intellect," whispered a woman nearby.

"That’s it, honey. What’s intellect got to do with women’s rights or black folks’ 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?"

"That little man in black there! He says women can’t have as much rights as men. ‘Cause Christ wasn’t a woman. She stood with outstretched arms and eyes of fire. "Where did your Christ come from?"

"Where did your Christ come from?", she thundered again. "From God and a Woman! Man had nothing to do with him!"

The entire church now roared with deafening applause.

"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 that they are asking to do it the men better let them."

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11 Responses to “ain’t I a woman?”

Comments

  1. Ministir
    On October 11, 2006 at 1:25 pm

    Brilliant! I’ve never come across that speech before. I’ve not really researched this (would like to) but it intrigues me why the Christian faith seems far more appealing to women than men (look at the proportion of women, compared to men in our churches), when the Church has subjegated women for the vast majority of it’s history. I have an incling that it has to do with liberation and their being no male or female in Christ. Maybe the Church is only just beginning to get its head round this.

  2. LauraHD
    On October 11, 2006 at 1:31 pm

    I really like the challenge/ advice of your older, wiser woman – to talk about or to do. (Is that a crude reduction of the choice?) I suppose I’ve tried in my own way to do a bit of both, but can’t help thinking that I’m more happy as a do-er than a talker. Perhaps this is an age/ stage or time/ place thing – one that we all fluctuate between over time?…

  4. Phyllis
    On October 11, 2006 at 3:43 pm

    Thanks for this Maggi. I have goosebumps, once again.

  5. Greg the Explorer
    On October 12, 2006 at 12:40 am

    Wow…I could picture Sojourner Truth speaking…and I could just picture all the men whincing with every “Ain’t I a woman”. But the prize moment was “Where did your Christ come from?”
    It’s is outragious that in this day and age anyone, let alone the church (who should actually be defednign the rights of the downtrodden…not adding to them and perpetuating myths) can possibly not see that all are one and there is no male or female – just people.
    Our gender is a biological function…it is not a dterminer opf staus , priviledge or role in the world. I believe that it is time for the church to quit trying to spiritualise gender and get it’s head out of its…well you know what I mean.
    Great post Maggi
    Greg

  6. Chase
    On October 12, 2006 at 1:59 am

    Wow! I think the line about God and a woman was really funny. It is so true that men seem/ed to think that they are the end all and be all of creation, but with out women where would be?
    We really are complementary to each other. Equal though in many ways this means the same I still don’t know if men and woman are the same. If men are the same as woman than what do we say about homosexuality?

  7. Kathryn
    On October 12, 2006 at 6:32 pm

    A timely reminder of a great woman and some inspired and inspiring words. Thanks

  8. Neale
    On October 13, 2006 at 7:11 am

    I guess no woman reading this post now will ever doubt the virgin birth.

  9. Cynthia
    On October 15, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    Weeping, chest heaving weeping. My spiritual journey has brought me here, trying to figure out what it means to be an empowered woman in Christ. The statement about there not being time to be a part time expert on feminism is my life. I am a stay at home mom of nine children, eight are still at home, I am still homeschooling seven of them. I want to be an empowered woman … maybe I already am … is that what Soujourner means … I am because I am a woman?
    I don’t know what point I am trying to make becauase I am still trying to sort it all out in my mind. I spent quite a few years lost in a patriarchal mentality where women were second class and could only speak to other women on matters of housekeeping, cooking, laundry, taking care of children, loving and respecting husbands. Funny thing is that I don’t think my husband was ever in that mentality but I kept trying to push him there, to take his “rightful” place in the home.
    I am still recovering from those years, still trying to figure it out.
    Thank you for the thoughtful conversation here.

  10. phillip
    On October 17, 2006 at 6:35 pm

    Great Speech but it highlights the real problem that what should be an inherent political and legal equality has been corrupted into the notion of women being equal, in the sense of same as, men.

  11. Chaplain Ron
    On July 9, 2007 at 12:00 am

    I find it fascinating,and most stimulating,reading.I know full well that God certainly is no respector of persons, if He realy goes before us then we need not waste our time in our defence, for what we were called to do. The signs will follow us. There are however far to many unfortunately,that were ordained by the hands of man and not the Hand of God. I suppose it is a good hide out. I don’t have time to speculate on that it gives me a headache anyway. I got kingdon business to attend to. I do like like the worship piece. Do you think the line has been broached between worship and enterainment, and sales figars? Who will be the next superstar, in God’s hall of fame, there is only room for one star there. My thought will buy a cup of coffee, but you will need a dallor to go with this coupon. Keep up the good work, God is watching, so am I
    Chaplain Ron