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.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Uses Parallelism in Declaration of Sentiments

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, photo found here.

July 19, 1848

Suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton introduced a document in Seneca Falls, New York, bringing to light American history and the need for justice for women.

Throughout the document, Stanton alludes to the values held in the statements of the Declaration of Independence. The first paragraph of the speech uses language from the original Declaration in order to outline the explanation to follow.

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course,” Stanton begins.

The new Declaration maintains a parallel to the revolutionary document of 1776, using structure and language to show the similarities between the unfair taxation of Americans by the British and the lack of rights for American women.

“The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her,” Stanton said of the injustices toward women.

This approach to the argument is interesting, as it helps to build all three of the Aristotelian appeals.

photo credit

Ethos

Stanton builds ethos through her knowledge and application of American history to her cause. She exhibits patriotism and classic American values in order to prove that intelligent, educated women deserve rights promised to them historically.

Pathos

The appeal to patriotism and American pride allows for an audience connection throughout. Men want to uphold the justice of the nation, while women want to become a part of the government and American history. It also forces the audience to confront their emotions about the similarities between British tyranny and women’s suffrage.

Logos

Stanton creates a logical argument through parallelism, using a previously valid argument to make valid the argument that she presents. The deductive reasoning used by American forefathers also applies to the rights denied to women. If Americans were right to declare independence from Great Britain due to taxation without representation, then women are justified in demanding governmental representation as American citizens.  

The actual Sentiments section allows for the women at the convention to air their grievances to the government, an emotional vent that brings together a frustrated group. The use of parallelism in the Declaration of Sentiments not only allows for audience appeals, but allows for unity within the movement. The document, presented at the first Women’s Rights Convention organized by women, forced conventional thinkers to face the reality of a possible change.

“Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation -- in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States,” Stanton said.

The final paragraph of the Declaration explains the goal of the document: to be given the same rights that are given to men. Stanton justifies the request by referencing the previously mentioned injustices. The document successfully argues for women’s rights through the use of a previously validated deductive argument. She receives 100 signatures on the document, 38 of which are men.