Sojourner Truth Literary Response

Steve Epting
AP English
Sojourner Truth Literary Response
When comparing the two documents that I have read about Sojourner Truth’s speeches, the most obvious point that she is trying to get across is equality. Truth wants equal rights for black people and she also wants equal rights for women. Truth believes down in her soul that all women deserve equal rights as men and she has convincing points that get her point across. By the end of Sojourner Truth’s speech there wasn’t a dry eye or an untouched heart in the place. Her words were so strong that they reached everyone that heard them.
In the document Aren’t I a Woman?, it wasn’t as raw and heartfelt. The words weren’t as appealing and it wasn’t as exciting. Even though the points and ideas were the same, the way they were given were not as strong as the other document. This document held back and did not give as many details of how a woman should be treated. The only reason that I could tell that the crowd was into it was because the reading said so. The word choice wasn’t as hard hitting. I received the message of her wanting equality for every person, but it just did not blow me away.
The document 1881 Account by Frances Gage (or is it by Sojourner Truth? The Debate Continues) is the direct speech that Sojourner Truth gave at a convention. This piece of literature hit home to say that all women need equal rights as men because we can do anything a man can do. She gave specific examples referring to how she plowed the fields and she showed how strong she was by holding up her muscle. Also, she said that she had thirteen children and she cried every time every one of them got sold into slavery. Her point there was, if she could withstand that trial, she could take on anything. This was a speech back in the 1800s so the grammar back then wouldn’t be correct if we spoke it today. She used such words as dey, dar, ‘twixt, and ’em mos’. This created a connection with the people in the audience because it opened their eyes to know that everyone needs equal rights.
In conclusion, the main point that Truth wanted to get across was equal rights for all women and black people. She said, “If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yourn holds a quart, wouldn’t ye be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?” She meant that if I only have limited rights now and you have more than me, wouldn’t you be mean to take my rights and not let me have any? Equal rights are the basis of Sojourner Truth’s entire mission.