Saturday Alief-Hayes Class Notes

Ain’t I a Woman?

Group 1 – N, P, P

What is Truth’s argument?

In the first argument she compares herself to men in terms of doing hard work.  As a result she deserves the same rights.  She also believes that women should have as many rights as men because Christ came from God and a woman.  Men were not involved in Christ’s creation.  Women have not been given as much education as men so you can’t judge them for knowing less.

Group 2 – C, A, D, P

Why does Truth refer to the bible in her speech and how does it empower her argument?

Truth refers to the bible in her speech because the bible is used against women.  People state that Jesus was not a woman.  But in fact, there are many strong women in the bible.  Refers to Eve causing Adam to sin and how this bible story is used to disempower women.  Lazarus story where women had more faith that Lazarus would rise from the dead. This story empowers women because it shows that women are more faithful to God than men are.   Jesus was created by God and a woman.  Therefore this fact is a great argument against men who say women should not have rights because Jesus was a man.

Group 3 – T, R, K

What does it mean when Truth states, “But man is in a tight place?”

This image means that men who have control over others has no room to run away from slaves nor white women.  If he doesn’t give freedom to slaves there will be civil war.  If he doesn’t give women their rights there will be war at home.

Group 4 – Y, V, M, N

These versions are written 12 years apart yet they are very similar.  What does this tell us about American society at the time?

Even though twelve years pass between these two versions of her speech there was actually little change in the society.  There is almost no change in her essay.  This indicates that slavery and women’s rights remained serious problems.

Group 5  - W, S, N

Truth ends her speech very abruptly.  Why might she do this and how does it affect the reader?

She ends her speech abruptly to show that women can save the world.  The sooner we realize that the better it will be for us.  Women can fix the world.  The unsettled groups are becoming more unsettled.  Her ending causes readers to take her more seriously.  It shows that women can go through so much and work so hard and still be seen as less and have unequal rights compared to men.