Ain t I a Woman Rhetorical Analysis

August 20, 2013
Period 2
Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Rhetorical Analysis
In 1851 Sojourner Truth gave her powerful “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at a women’s convention in Akron, Ohio. Although Truth was illiterate all of her life she had a wonderful way to connect with people. Despite the fact that most of her audience was women there were also a few men that attended and she made a point to include them. Truth’s historic speech was all about gender equality and encouraging women to fight these injustices that they were facing. She was able to emotionally appeal to her audience both as a woman and as a mother. Along with that she included logical and ethical appeal to rebut counterarguments. All of the rhetorical elements, repetition, references, and rhetorical questions helped deliver Truth’s speech effectively.
First off, Truth tries to bond with her audience on an emotional level. She does this by talking about her children, “I have borne thirteen children, and seen most sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me!” When she said this the mothers in the audience were able to relate. They know what it is like to have children and would not be able to imagine the pain Truth had to go through. Additionally, when she uses personal experiences from her life it makes the speech and Truth seem more authentic. Credibility is easily assembled when a speaker can connect with an audience on an emotional level.
Next, Truth puts the rhetorical appeal logos into action. She now tries to appeal to the audience in a logical manner. She starts of by asking, “Then they talk about this thing in the head, what’s this they call it? [Intellect someone whispers.] That’s it honey. What’s that go to do with women’s rights or negro’s rights?” When Truth puts things into plain perspective like that it makes sense to everyone. She also makes sure the audience is involved by making points but asking them as rhetorical questions. It keeps the audience alert and thinking which is very important because if you just spit facts at a bunch of people they are not going to give you there full attention. Asking rhetorical questions is definitely another useful method in creating a persuasive argument.
Truth also utilizes the third rhetorical appeal; ethos. She first points out a man in the audience and says, “…he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.” In those times many people where Christian and really respected the Bible. When she used this bible reference she was able to connect with her Christian audience. This made things more personal because then the audience sees Truth as a fellow Christian and not someone just giving a speech. Also in the beginning when she points out the man she is then again engaging the audience and shifts the attention to the man in order to keep everyone else alert. Along with that she uses repetition when she repeats the question twice “Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from?” By using repetition she builds emotion and empowers the audience.
Applying multiple rhetorical strategies Truth was able to produce this impacting speech that will remain a big part of history. Her speech helped encourage women to fight for their rights and gender equality. She emotionally appeals to her audience using personal experiences, logically appeals to them by talking about intellect and appeals to them ethically by using bible references in order to successfully bring to light the injustices women were facing and to provoke a desire for change.