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From Chapter 4: Sojourner Truth, God Talker

Sojourner moved to the front, took off her old bonnet and looked to the president. There was some hissing, but the church quieted when they were comanded. All eyes upon her, her deep voice easily hearable, she made some preliminary remarks on the trouble between the North and the South, then delivered one of her most famous speeches:

"But what’s all this here talking about? That man over there says that 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’ve plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no man could head me--and ain’t I a woman? I could work as much as a man, and eat as much, when I could get it, and bear the lash as well. And ain’t I a woman? They talks about this thing in the head...what they call it?"

"Intellect," someone said.

"That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or niggers’ rights?

"If my cup won’t hold but a pint and your’n hold a quart, wouldn’t ye be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?"

While some cheered and guffawed, she pointed to one of the ministers.

"Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men ’cause Christ warn’t a woman. Where did your Christ come from?"

No one spoke. She repeated the question. Then with a ringing voice she answered herself.

"From God and a woman. Man ain’t had nothin’ to do with it!"