Misha NewtonMs. Sara WilleyHonors English III, Period 6 March 19, 2014Sojourner Truth: Woman ActivistIn the early 1900s, women and slaves in the United States were fighting for their freedom in society. These courageous slaves and women opposed the laws of the time to assert their rights. Many of these activists became famous during this time, and now in textbooks. Sojourner Truth, a woman who championed the rights of women and people of color, was born into slavery and escaped after the fight for abolitionism began. Sojourner had seen the hardships of being a woman and a slave during her long life. A victim of the prejudices associated with being a slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth spoke out with enthusiastic speeches on women's rights and slavery at conventions. Sojourner expressed support for the abolitionist movement and for women's rights with her speech "Am I Not a Woman?" On May 28, 1851, Sojourner Truth gave her most famous speech at a women's convention in Akron, Ohio. In her speech, Sojourner then expressed her views on women's rights and the rights of slaves. Sojourner expresses how men see women as people who always need a man's help. Sojourner contradicted these ideas by recounting how she was treated by men and how it was the opposite. Sojourner uses her life experiences to prove that the argument that all women need help from men is invalid, stating, "I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I had any - and take the hits too! And I'm not a woman? Sojourner says she is capable of doing as much as a man and more, but she is not considered a woman or equal to men because of the color of her skin. Sojourner also states that men are afraid of giving women rights: "If my cup only holds a pint and yours is in the middle of a paper......describing how Sojourner Truth inspires him to continue. the fight for women's equality and support for children in today's society. Works CitedEdelman, Marian W., “Ain't I a Woman? HuffingtonPost. March 8, 2011. The Huffington Post.com. Internet. March 1, 2014. Fitch, Suzanne P. and Roseanne M. Mandziuk. Speak “Sabbath School Convention” Sojourner Truth as speaker: spirit, story, and song. Westport. Greenwood, 1997. 191-120. Print. Stanton, Elizabeth C., Susan B. Anthony and Matilda J. Gag, et al. “Am I Not a Woman: Reminiscences of Sojourner Truth Speaking.” History of women's suffrage. Vol 1. (1881): 114-117.Truth, Sojourner, “Am I not a woman? Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio, May 28-29, 1851. Truth, Sojourner. “The great sin of prejudice against color” Poem Hunter. Nd Web. March 6 2014.