Certain black women faced the triple hurdle—of being…
““Certain black women faced the triple hurdle—of being abolitionists in a slave society, of being black among white reformers, and of being women in a reform movement dominated by men. When Sojourner Truth rose to speak in 1853 in New York City at the Fourth National Woman’s Rights Convention, it all came together. There was a hostile mob in the hall shouting, jeering, threatening. She said: I know that it feels a kind o’ hissin’ and ticklin’ like to see a colored woman get up and tell you about things, and Woman’s Rights. We have all been thrown down so low that nobody thought we’d ever get up again; but . . . we will come up again, and now I’m here. . . . we’ll have our rights; see if we don’t; and you can’t stop us from them; see if you can. You may hiss as much as you like, but it is comin’. . . . I am sittin’ among you to watch; and every once and awhile I will come out and tell you what time of night it is. . . .””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Black women faced intersecting oppression; Sojourner Truth’s defiant speech asserted rights despite hostility
In simple terms: Black women fought triple oppression and still demanded rights
Key Takeaway
Recognize intersecting barriers and keep demanding equality
Themes
justice
intersectionality
activism
Mood
inspirational
defiant
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- civil rights movements
- women’s suffrage
- modern activism
- education on intersectionality
Key Concepts
civil rights
gender equality
historical resistance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do intersecting oppressions affect activism today?
- What can we learn from Truth’s resilience?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may differ; modern audiences need nuance