An Analysis Of Frances Gage's Anti-Slavery Brige In Frances Gage

In 1797, Sojourner Truth was born a slave in New York. Her first language was Dutch, which she learned from her father. She was sold to an English speaking family, and though she learned the language, she never learned how to read or write. In 1843, she began traveling as a religious speaker who advocated for the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. Throughout her life, she regularly spoke in crowds and “emerged as one of the nation’s most flamboyant advocates of the rights of African Americans and women” (775). In Akron, Ohio in 1851, Truth gave a speech to the Women’s Rights Convention that touched the hearts of many.

The Anti-Slavery Bugle published one version of Truth’s speech on June 21, 1851 shortly after she gave it. The journalist who …show more content…
Rather than using elegant speech, Gage employs a southern dialect that was typically expected of African Americans at that time. In comparison to the above account, Gage’s account shows Truth stating “And a'n't I a woman? Look at me! Look at me! Look at my arm! (and she bared her right arm to the shoulder, showing her tremendous muscular power). I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And a'n't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear de lash a well! And a'n't I a woman?” (Gage). While this dialect is definitely not one Truth would speak in, Gage’s account includes parts of Truth’s speech that makes it accurate. Between the verses of Truth’s speech, Gage describes the audience’s reaction to Truth’s words. In the middle of her speech, “Rolling thunder couldn't have stilled that crowd, as did those deep, wonderful tones, as she stood there with outstretched arms and eyes of fire” (Gage). Gage’s account includes more details about Truth’s gestures and the audience’s reactions, which are not included in the 1951