“I born 13 children and seen almost all sold off into slavery.”
Addie L. Wyatt (March 8, 1924 – March 28, 2012) was a leader in the United States Labor movement, and a civil rights activist. Wyatt is known for being the first African-American woman elected international vice president of a major labor union, the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union. Learn more about Addie here.
This speech was given at Harvard’s Divinity School on November 2, 2002. Watch the full speech here.
Sojourner Truth (1797 – November 26, 1883) was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Learn more about Sojourner here.
Excerpt of Speech Text:
Look at my arms.
I have plowed.
I have planted and I have gathered into barn and no man could head me.
And ain't I a woman?
I could work as much and eat as much as any man, when I get it.
And bear the lash as well, and ain't I a woman?
I born 13 children and seen almost all sold off into slavery.
And when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me.
And ain't I a woman?
I want to dedicate that famous, powerful poem from that great woman preacher Sojourner Truth.
God knows she has inspired my little life and have given me much courage in the time of distress, in the time, often, of great pain.
When I expect so much to happen, but I have to say to myself, ain't I a woman?
About Belief Street Faith and Labor
Belief Street Faith and Labor is an EMLab brand produced by Evan Matthew Papp and we are a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network. Support media, authors, artists, historians, and journalists, who are fighting to improve the prosperity of the working class.
Follow our work at: https://www.empathymedialab.com/beliefstreet.
85. Harold Meyerson (American Prospect), John Russo (Kalmanovitz Initiative at Georgetown University), Kayla Blado (President NPEU), Nicholas Juravich (UMassBoston)
84. Paths of Renewed Encounter - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 7 - Belief Street
83. LRPN Livestream - Kim Kelly (Teen Vogue Labor Columnist), Damon Silvers (AFL-CIO Policy Director), George Mann (Labor Folksinger & Songwriter)
82. Dialogue and Friendship in Society - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 6 - Belief Street
81. Alan Wierdak contributor to Labor History Today - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
80. Chris Bangert-Drowns reporter with 89.3 WPFW - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
79. Patrick Dixon Co-Producer of Labor History Today - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
78. Power Struggle - Episode 4 - New Years Eve Special & 2020 Recap
77. Simon Sapper of the Union Dues - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
76. Jacob Morrison of The Valley Labor Report - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
75. Gene Lantz of Workers Beat - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
74. A Better Kind of Politics - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 5 - Belief Street
73. Marc Bélanger of RadioLabour - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
72. John Andrechak of Laborlines - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
71. A Heart Open to the Whole World - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 4 - Belief Street
70. Dan Golodner of Tales from the Reuther Library - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
69. Envisaging and Engendering an Open World - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 3 - Belief Street
68. A Stranger on the Road - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 2 - Belief Street
67. Kayla Blado, President Nonprofit Professional Employees Union - LRPN Livestream (shortened)
66. Timothy Sheard, Publisher of Hard Ball Press - LRPN Livestream (shortened)
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