Aren’t I a Woman?

    "Aren't I a woman" is a retold version of Sojourner Truth's speech at a woman's right convention. This audacious speech was full of so much sassiness giving the speech an empowering air. Truth talks about women rather than men in her speech. This emphasizes women's importance in the role of society. She gave many examples to prove her point of view alluding to the bible. First she asks the audience "where did your Christ come from?" giving the audience a chance to think about the question. Then she goes ahead to ask the question emphasizing the importance of the question. She repeats the question as a way to interact with the audience, to elevate their (audience) minds into an abstract way of thinking and to connect with her audience at a higher level. After this as if to relieve the tension she purposely and specifically built up, she answers the question "From God and a Woman."

    Repetition is a very significant rhetoric device that Truth uses to get her point across. When truth uses this device, an amazing result gives way. Her feelings and passion emanate from her and flow into her audience. The reader knows this fact with the help of the Italics. With this assist, the reader gets an instant gratification of what is going on with the audience. The reader can see Truth's use of repetition when one looks at "Aren't I a Woman?" That question was repeated throughout the whole speech. The use of repetition stresses the significance of the question. It stresses the meaning and what she believes the definition of a woman is. Truth sees all these women being taken care of and admired by men and yet she gets nothing. This makes her wonder; isn't she a woman? She is a hard worker, works harder than most men, yet she is not noticed in the society. That accepted but in the least she should be accepted as a true woman. This makes her wonder; isn't she a woman? She bore thirteen children and watched as they were all taken away from her. Her children were considered to be nothing more than property just as she was. She went through so much and was denied so much but still didn't have the simple respect of being addressed as a woman even though she was better than a man. This makes her wonder; isn't she a woman?

    Sojourner Truth's tone in this speech was sassy; almost sarcastic. This gave the speech an air of empowerment because it was courageous and brave. Truth was a minister so she was a skilled preacher and knew how to rile up a crowd. The most important fact about this speech was that Truth killed three birds with one stone. Not only did she address the situation of a typical African American, the typical situation of a woman but she addressed the problems of an African American woman. She painted a picture with her words her diction and use of syntax (not imagery) of what an African American women go through. Sojourner Truth proved that it was good to be audacious but more respected was being audacious to be good.