Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth and Henry David Thoreau did have some things in common. The thing that they most had in common was that they were both against slavery (Thoreau) (IHS). Sojourner Truth spoke out to a congregation of African American women to expand on her opinions on slavery (IHS). Sojourner made the claim "Ain't I a woman" (IHS). She had told of the white society and how the white men want to treat the white women well (IHS). She says that white men say that "women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere". This is when miss Sojourner asks, "ain't I a woman?". And she goes on to tell that she has never been helped into carriages. She says that she has never been lifted over ditches. And she also says that she has definitely not had the best place everywhere (IHS). In fact, she says that she has been in some of the worst places ever, had some of the worst treatment ever, and gone through some hardships so terrible that most white men have not even gone through, let alone the women (IHS). When she asks "Ain't I a woman?", she is basically asking why has she been treated so badly when the white men are saying that women should be treated well. She was making the point that she is a woman and has not been treated well (IHS). Sojourner Truth is definitely against slavery, just like Henry David Thoreau (Thoreau). Thoreau makes many claims against slavery, and even fails to pay his poll taxes as a way to stand out against slavery (Thoreau). Thoreau chooses rebellion as a way to fight against slavery, just as does Sojourner Truth (Thoreau) (IHS). Thoreau rebels in that he does not pay his taxes (Thoreau). Sojourner Truth rebels against slavery in that she literally helps lead an entire rebellion among the African American people by telling them her thought sand opinions and helps motivate them to stand up for the black man when nobody else does. and that if they all rebel together, they may be able to accomplish a lot (IHS).

"Internet History Sourcebooks." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. .

"Henry David Thoreau and 'Civil Disobedience' by Wendy McElroy."LewRockwell.com. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with Annotated Text." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.