Sojourner Truth Identifies With Audiences to Argue for Rights

May 29, 1851
At the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, the voice of former slave Sojourner Truth echoed a simple message of equality and fairness.

Painting of Truth, found here.

Truth, a New York-born freed slave, addressed the uproar created by previous speakers a promiscuous audience searching for answers to the fight for rights for women and African-Americans. In a short message to the present audience, Truth called out the struggles of not only African-Americans, but of American women, rallying together two separate groups hoping for justice.

Truth works throughout the address to identify with three different audiences:

• Women
•  African Americans
•  Christians

Why were Truth’s arguments effective? The simplicity and relatability of her arguments allowed for more of the audience to connect with her as a rhetor. This allowed for her thoughts on equality to leave more of an impact than if she had appealed to only one of the audiences.

Truth tells her story as a freed slave, a mother, and a wife, creating ethos as well as pathos among the audiences.

Truth identified with a female audience mainly by identifying herself as a mother. This is effective because most adult women at the time are likely mothers, or at least have recently left their mothers’ homes.

She also unified the African-American audience by recounting her experiences as a former slave. Mentioning the work she has done as a woman and a slave creates empathy with both audiences, who are forced to face the realities of mistreatment through Truth’s words.

“Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!” Truth said. “And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?”

The devout Christian also addressed the religious notions of women being the lesser gender, refuting arguments made by previous speakers.

Truth’s knowledge of Christianity and attention to detail almost creates humor in the obvious truth about woman’s role in the life of Christ. By pointing out that Christ would not have even existed without the involvement of his mother, Truth has the chance to win over members of an audience that has long overlooked the role of women in a successful society. 

“Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman!” Truth said of remarks made by a clergyman in the audience. “Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.”

These strategies combined to unite a radically different audience of opposing viewpoints. Truth used rhetorical tricks far beyond her education level, allowing for the authenticity of her arguments to build ethos for the African-American woman.

Truth’s arguments are successful not only because of their validity, but because of her ability as a rhetor to join radically different audiences together as part of a movement. This is crucial early on when both women and African-Americans needed to rally supporters to gain rights to vote and be respected members of society.