Speech

Sojourner Truth couldn't read or write, but she could use her dang voice. And her voice was so powerful that this speech echoes through history.

It was spontaneous—she hadn't been asked to speak—which you can see by the jumpiness of the content and style. A written form would probably have been smoother, with more of a tie between topics, but it wouldn't have had the gritty impact it does and definitely wouldn't have captured the attention of Frances Gage later on.

How it Breaks Down

The Who, The Why, and the When

Here's the point: the white man stands no chance against the resolve of slaves and women when they decide to get what's fairly owed them.

Sock It To 'Em

This is where Truth actually references her experiences—she's a woman as well as a former slave, but all the talk of social reform revolved around Black men and white women. Luckily, Sojourner is there to make sure everyone knows how messed up this double standard is.

Allow Her to Reiterate

Truth mentions intellect, and the fact that no one seems to be using it in the interests of equality. After all, the haves are trying to make sure that the have-nots never get their fair share…even if equality wouldn't diminish what rights those in power (white men) already hold.

Winding Down, or Winding Up for the TKO

Just in case the logic from the previous sections didn't get you, Truth pointed out that the religious basis for opposing women's rights was pretty much hokum. God required Mary to bring Christ into the world and Eve managed to change the status quo effectively on her own, so what could an organization of determined women do to the world? That's right: effect some serious change.

Boom, and done.