Women Abolitionists -- Poem and Speech
Name:
The following are two excerpts: One is from a poem written by African
American abolitionist Sarah Forten and the other is from a speech given by
African American abolitionist Sojourner Truth. In the space provided below these
excerpts, explain in your own words what these two women are saying to European
American abolitionist women.
POEM BY SARAH FORTEN
We are thy
sisters, God has truly said,
That of one blood the nations he has made
0,
Christian woman! in a Christian land!
Canst thou unblushingly read this great
command?
Suffer the wrongs which wring our inmost heart,
To draw one throb
of pity on thy part!
Our skins may differ, but from thee we claim
A sister's privilege and a sister's name.
Sarah Forten is saying:
SPEECH BY SOJOURNER TRUTH
"Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud
puddles, or gives me any best place! And, ain't I a woman? Look at me! I have
ploughed, planted and gathered into bames, and no man could head me! 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 born thirteen
children and seen most all sold into slavery. And when I cried out with my
mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?"
Sojourner Truth is saving:
