You may be familiar with the name Sojourner Truth. Sojourner Truth was a great lady who was both an emancipator and a suffragette. In the late 1840s the Akron Convention was held to expound upon women’s rights. Ironically, most of the speakers at the convention were men — men who proclaimed the inferiority of women, of all things. Men who announced that women had no contribution to make to the community beyond that of being a homemaker. Men who believed that women lacked the sound judgment necessary to be registered voters. Men who held forth that women lacked the ability required to conduct financial matters. Men who were certain that women were incapable of owning and operating a business.<\/p>\n
When one male speaker announced the superior intelligence of men over women, Sojourner Truth could no longer remain silent. She mounted the steps leading up to the platform. Forcing the speaker to one side, she boldly stood before the assembly. Shocked at what just occurred, the audience fell silent. Then Sojourner Truth spoke words that all could hear. “Suppose a man’s mind holds a quart,” she said, “and a woman’s don’t hold but a pint; if her pint is full, it’s as good as his quart.”<\/p>\n
We would laugh at such logic today. Probably all of us can think of people we know, both men and women, who are running about a quart low. Still, we can thank God this is one controversy that can be laid to rest.<\/p>\n
Is one sex better than another? Certainly not! Is one race better than another? Certainly not! Is one nationality better than another? Certainly not! Is the entrepreneur better than the laborer — the educated better than the uneducated — the politically powerful more important than the common citizen? Certainly not! Each of us has a special gift and talent to be recognized and respected. Each of us has a contribution to make, without which we would all be less. Each of us has a unique potential. To have the mind of Christ is to see another’s potential.<\/p>\n
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\nAnother version:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.csun.edu\/~jr8265\/truth%20and%20tubman.htm<\/p>\n
The Classic Report<\/p>\n
Several ministers attended the second day of the Woman\u2019s Rights Convention, and were not shy in voicing their opinion of man\u2019s superiority over women. One claimed \u201csuperior intellect\u201d, one spoke of the \u201cmanhood of Christ,\u201d and still another referred to the \u201csin of our first mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Sojourner Truth rose from her seat in the corner of the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor God\u2019s sake, Mrs. Gage, don\u2019t let her speak!\u201d half a dozen women whispered loudly, fearing that their cause would be mixed up with Abolition.<\/p>\n
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: \u201cWell, 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\u2019s all this talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sojourner pointed to one of the ministers. \u201cThat 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\u2019t I a woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sojourner raised herself to her full height. \u201cLook at me! Look at my arm.\u201d She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. \u201cI have plowed, I have planted and I have gathered into barns. And no man could head me. And ain\u2019t I a woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI could work as much, and eat as much as man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain\u2019t I a woman? I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother\u2019s grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain\u2019t I a woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
The women in the audience began to cheer wildly.<\/p>\n
She pointed to another minister. \u201cHe talks about this thing in the head. What\u2019s that they call it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIntellect,\u201d whispered a woman nearby.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it, honey. What\u2019s intellect got to do with women\u2019s rights or black folks\u2019 rights? If my cup won\u2019t hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn\u2019t you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat little man in black there! He says women can\u2019t have as much rights as men. \u2018Cause Christ wasn\u2019t a woman.\u201d She stood with outstretched arms and eyes of fire. \u201cWhere did your Christ come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did your Christ come from?\u201d she thundered again. \u201cFrom God and a Woman! Man had nothing to do with him!\u201d<\/p>\n
The entire church now roared with deafening applause.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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