Rhetorical Questions In Aint I A Woman

Sojourner Truth’s “Aint I a Woman” speech uses rhetorical questions to portray the complex intersectionality of her experiences and oppression as not only a woman during that time period but also a woman of color. At first glance, Truth incites an emotional response in her audience by addressing them as “children,” however, she continues to liberate them through the repetition of the earnest rhetorical question “and ain’t I a woman?” With each restatement of this rhetorical question, Sojourner amplifies the empathy and affection of her audience. She furthers the rhythmic and poetic repetition and then heightens up an energy in her “voice” and audience with a brief personal recount followed each time with the same rhetorical question. She illuminates