Alfre Woodard reads Sojourner Truth

Alfre Woodard reads "Ain't I a Woman?", a speech delivered by abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the Women's Convention in 1851. Part of a reading from Voices of a People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove,)February 1, 2007 at All Saints Church in Pasadena, CA.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Alfre
• Woodard
• Sojourner
• Truth
• Sufferage
• voices
• people's
• history
• spoken
• word
• performance
• Zinn
• Arnove

[hmkg1941]

This has been my favorite reading of "Ain't I a Woman?" that I have been able to find. Alfre Woodard's voice is perfect for displaying all of the emotion in this speech. Thanks for sharing this.

[dubbledubbleU]

well, it's not really a "oh-that's-funny" kinda laugh, rather a "Ain't-that-the-truth" laugh, because the emotion and raw attitude that the speech is spoken and written, mixes the powerful message with slight humor

This speech gives me chills every time I listen to it

[JamesMondesi]

Awesome

[INVISIBLEGUY0987]

lol

[kellylbarron]

@hmkg1941

Ms. Alfre Woodard channels Sojourner's spirt here. It carries me away to another time, and reminds me that the time is now. 

[ninasooz]

I am crying so hard. My god. Where are these heroes today? Who could be this woman? Who was she? To have the courage, the heart to come after all that pain and experience to say "Look at me!" I am a white woman, and she is one of my heroes. Speaks to me to think more about my sisters of color.

[DreamTeamZombiesMem]

I learned this speech in english just cause im 12 dosnt mean i dont understand it

[TheBloopification]

Absolutely my favorite speech... Like, ever. And this rendition is anazing, too. It's not often that I listen to historical speeches more than enough times to write notes, but I find myself coming time and time again to this. Sojourner Truth- I'm in love with this speech.

[09Harlem]

what happened in 1:26 to 1:40? haha.

"i have ploughed, and planted, and could work as much no man can, no man could head me! and gathered into barns, and a'n't i a woman?"

she skipped and went back and then back and forward. haha, but it's just okay. mistake. hehehe. (--,)

[StellaEllaMaya]

@FalconAlpaca Have you ever spoken to a feminist? Have you EVER met one who was happy with the status quo?

[sarafina333]

pause it at 3:05

[markgonzgonzales]

@FalconAlpaca Actually, it's both! Of course there are different variations of feminism, but I consider one definition of a feminist as a person that, although she/he really thinks men, women, transgenders etc. are completely equal, that person also actually agrees with the idea that women, at this moment, are opressed in this society... and that we shall be changing this! This person should then of course ACT! It's a realisation of the current state.