Sojourner Truth Speech

 Let me ask everyone a question.

Where are my kids? (pause)

Let me ask you Slave owners, where are my kids?

I am Sojouner Truth and I have birthed 13 kids and I have never met a single offspring of mine because each and every kid is a slave to you.

I was born into slavery. Slavery is the only thing I know. I did not get a celebration like you white people have. My real name is Isabella, but I would never know. My birthdate does not even exist because no one cares about a slave. The only thing I know about my birthday is that I was born in 1797.

 

I was bought for the first time by a horrible man named John Neely at the age of nine. He use to beat me, rape me and just because he could… he sold me. Did I tell you he only bought me for $100 and a flock of sheep?

 

Do you think you are only worth $100 and a flock of sheep? I don’t think so.

 

I was sold two more times before I was even 15.

 

I want to be free. Give me a vote. I want be with everyone. I don’t deserve to be hit. I deserve to be treated as a human not your property.

 

Not only do I believe in the equality of all people regardless of race. I believe women should be equal to men. Unlike Fredrick Douglas, who believes that black men deserve their rights first, I believe we all deserve our rights. Because we are all the same. No matter what we look like. Ain’t I a woman is something I would say.

 

I mean ain’t I a woman. Do I not deserve to be treated as such?

 

You know I want to be dolled up too. I want to wear pearls. I want a man who sees me as beautiful. I want to be helped into a carriage. I want to be helped over a mud puddle. Should I not?

 

The man I loved promised me to let me free but lied. He kept me a slave. I then escaped and became free. By myself! Imagine me leaving my life, my kids, and everything behind for my freedom. I still think about my kids everyday.

 

I am just like any women. I give birth, I bleed, I cry, I pray. But why am I not a women to you? Why am I not free to you?