Sojourner Truth Speech - Free Essay Example

Sojourner Truth was an African-American feminist and abolitionist. Truth is arguably most well-known for her speech that she gave in 1851 at the Womens Rights Convention in Ohio. During this period in which Truth lived, abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were especially effective in making an impression towards their listeners because they incorporated their experiences as ex-slaves. Truth delivered her speech as a means to retaliate against anti feminist arguments that were raised during that time. According to History.com, Truths most important legacy is the tone and substance of her language . They go on to use a sample of the speech Give ?em land and an outset, and hab teachers learn ?em to read. Den they can be somebody (Sojourner Truth). By stating such simplicity in such a complex matter, Truth has caused the audience to be stumped not only by the simplicity and frankness of her words but also the simple, homely language that she uses. Additionally, the Poetry Trust claims that the strongest tool of her speech are her argument/persuasion strategies . They continue by saying that by Truth including the racial and sexist issues that she encountered in her life, she provides first hand experience that she executes in a manner that is moving towards audience. She persuades her audience that a black women might deserve equal rights to men (Poetry Trust). By using facts and unarguable evidence as well as her use of deduction she manages to illustrate that women are not inferior to men. Simultaneously, Truth also mentions the relevance of christianity. The Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee says Sojourner Truth sounds like a down-to-earth preacher in her speeches (STMC). Truth points out that someone as significant and as Jesus Christ would not be born without the involvement of a woman. Truth uses her biblical knowledge as a means of connecting with her audience through the system of faith. By making references derived from the Bible, her mostly Christian audiences views her as a fellow Christian and responds to her more positively and supportively. Maria B. Perry of Appalachian State University illustrates the effectivity of rhetorical strategies that Truth uses. Sojourner effectively delivers the powerful message on the hypocrisy, unjust nature and moral inaccuracy of gender and race discrimination (Perry). Truth doesnt just merely state facts, but appeals emotionally to the audience using personal anecdotes as well as repetition in order to represent the injustices that she endured; and eventually elicits a desire for change. Furthermore, Rainer Abraham refers to the end of the speech. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they asking to do it, the men better let him (Truth). By addressing the past and connecting it to the future, Truth encouraged the women in the audience to band together and and fight. It is perceived that a woman turned the world upside down, butt Truth believed that women together would and should be able to turn the world back up right again. This initiates hope for women, Truth assures women that if they are a united front, they can achieve their rights and equality. Accordingly, Sojourner Truth delivered a very effective and powerful message on the hypocrisy, inequality and inaccuracy of gender and race discrimination. She used her clever anecdotes, religious belief and folk-like language to delineate the injustices during that period to generate a desire for change.