Ain't I A Woman

Witnesses of Truth’s speech later wrote about moments of laughter in the audience. Do you notice any shifts in tone during the speech that could result in such a reaction? How does Truth achieve this, and why?

Truth ultimately advocates for women’s suffrage. How does Truth argue that women are equal to men? Do you think her arguments are effective?

“Ain’t I a woman?” is repeated four times in Paragraph 2. Why does Truth rely so heavily on this question? What do you think she’s asking?

Truth uses the metaphor of “pints” and “quarts” (Paragraph 3) to describe the rights women and Black Americans are asking for. Do you find this metaphor effective? Why or why not?

While the overall message of Truth’s speech remains the same in both versions from Robinson and Gage, why do you think Gage made the changes that she did? How did these changes alter Truth’s original message?

In Robinson’s version, Truth reportedly states, “I am a woman’s rights” (Robinson, Marius. “Women’s Rights Convention.” The Anti-Slavery Bugle, June 1851, pp. 160). In Gage’s version, Truth reportedly asks, “Ain’t I a woman?” (Paragraph 2). How do these two phrases differ, and which do you believe is more effective? Why?

Truth’s audience consisted mostly of white people, especially middle-class white women. How does she use language to bridge the gap between herself (a Black former slave) and her audience?

How do you interpret Truth’s reference to the biblical story of Eve? If Truth is arguing that women should have equal political rights to men, why does she refer to the woman who “turn[ed] the world upside down” (Paragraph 5)?