In honor of National Women's History Month, I'd like to share this:

This is the text of a speech that Sojourner Truth gave at a women's
rights gathering in Akron, Ohio, May 28, 1851.


Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be
something out of kilter.  I think that 'twixt the niggers (sic)
of the South and the women of the North, all talking about rights,
the white men will be in a fix pretty soon.  But what's all this
here talking about?

That man over there that says women needs to be helped into
carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place 
everywhere.  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!  Look at my arm!  I have
ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, 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 borne thirteen children, and seen them
most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's
grief, none but Jesus heard me!  And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what this they
call it?  ("Intellect" whispered someone near.)  That's it, honey.
What's that got to do with women's rights or nigger's (sic) rights?
If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't
you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he say women can't have
as much rights as men, because 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!

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to 
turn the world upside down all alone, these women together
ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again.
And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing on me, and now old Sojourner
hasn't got anything more to say.