--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am above eighty years old ... I suppose…" description: "\"I am above eighty years old ... I suppose I am about the only colored woman that goes about to speak for the rights of the colored women. I want to kee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/sojourner-truth-10213_civil-rights_i-am-above-eighty-years-old-i-suppose-i_2595001.jpg" --- # I am above eighty years old ... I suppose I am about the… ![“I am above eighty years old ... I suppose I am about the only colored woman that goes about to speak for the rights of the colored women. I want to keep the thing stirring, now that the ice is cracked.” quote by Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/sojourner-truth-10213_civil-rights_i-am-above-eighty-years-old-i-suppose-i_2595001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/sojourner-truth-10213_civil-rights_i-am-above-eighty-years-old-i-suppose-i_2595001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/sojourner-truth-10213_civil-rights_i-am-above-eighty-years-old-i-suppose-i_2595001.jpg) > “I am above eighty years old ... I suppose I am about the only colored woman that goes about to speak for the rights of the colored women. I want to keep the thing stirring, now that the ice is cracked.” [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A colored woman speaks for her community, urging continued activism as barriers break. **In simple terms:** Speak for your community as obstacles fall. Key Takeaway Continue fighting for rights. Themes justice activism identity Mood determined hopeful Type historical motivational When to use this quote - civil rights movements - community organizing - education reform Key Concepts civil rights gender equality racial empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What does “the ice is cracked” symbolize? - How can you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective May face resistance from entrenched powers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Stirring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stirring/) [Women 's rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-rights/) ## Related quotes > [There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/there-is-a-great-stir-about-colored-men-getting-their-rights-but-not-2/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/there-is-a-great-stir-about-colored-men-getting-their-rights-but-not/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I speak for the colored women of the South, because it is there that the millions of blacks in this country have watered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/i-speak-for-the-colored-women-of-the-south-because-it-is-there-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [One dance had made me the most famous colored woman in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/one-dance-had-made-me-the-most-famous-colored-woman-in-the-world/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [As a colored woman I might enter Washington any night, stranger in a strange land, and walk miles without finding a place to lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-church-terrell/as-a-colored-woman-i-might-enter-washington-any-night-stranger-in-a/) [Mary Church Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-church-terrell/) > [I am a colored woman or a Negro woman. Either one is OK. People dislike those words now. Today these use this term African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-elizabeth-delany/i-am-a-colored-woman-or-a-negro-woman-either-one-is-ok-people-dislike/) [Annie Elizabeth Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-elizabeth-delany/) > [The colored woman of to-day occupies, one may say, a unique position in this country. In a period of itself transitional and unsettled, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-colored-woman-of-to-day-occupies-one-may-say-a-unique-position-in/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [I think it's important for women to speak up, it's important to speak up for their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-think-it-s-important-for-women-to-speak-up-it-s-important-to-speak/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [If you're not willing to speak out for the rights of other people, then who do you expect to speak out for you when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/if-you-re-not-willing-to-speak-out-for-the-rights-of-other-people/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/we-will-continue-our-journey-to-our-destination-of-peace-and/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [You know, my father was a great encouragement for me because he spoke out for women's rights, he spoke out for girl's education. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/you-know-my-father-was-a-great-encouragement-for-me-because-he-spoke/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bible/speak-up-for-those-who-cannot-speak-for-themselves-for-the-rights-of/) [The Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bible/) > [He who does not have the courage to speak up for his rights cannot earn the respect of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-g-torres/he-who-does-not-have-the-courage-to-speak-up-for-his-rights-cannot/) Rene G Torres > [Seeing their children touched and seared and wounded by race prejudice is one of the heaviest crosses which colored women have to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-church-terrell/seeing-their-children-touched-and-seared-and-wounded-by-race/) [Mary Church Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-church-terrell/) > [I have made it possible for many colored women to abandon the washtub for a more pleasant and profitable occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-made-it-possible-for-many-colored-women-to-abandon-the-washtub/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) ## More by Sojourner Truth > [Truth is powerful and it prevails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/truth-is-powerful-and-it-prevails/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Because of them I can now live the dream. I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/because-of-them-i-can-now-live-the-dream-i-am-the-seed-of-the-free/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/that-man-over-there-says-that-women-need-to-be-helped-into-carriages/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies; for the truth is powerful and will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-feel-safe-even-in-the-midst-of-my-enemies-for-the-truth-is-powerful/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Let ... individuals make the most of what God has given them, have their neighbors do the same, and then do all they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/let-individuals-make-the-most-of-what-god-has-given-them-have-their/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [God is the great house that holds all his children; we dwell in Him as the fishes dwell in the seas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/god-is-the-great-house-that-holds-all-his-children-we-dwell-in-him-as/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I feel safe in the midst of my enemies, for the truth is all powerful and will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-feel-safe-in-the-midst-of-my-enemies-for-the-truth-is-all-powerful/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [When I got religion, I found some work to do to benefit somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/when-i-got-religion-i-found-some-work-to-do-to-benefit-somebody/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I am for keeping the thing going while things are stirring. Because if we wait till it is still, it will take a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-am-for-keeping-the-thing-going-while-things-are-stirring-because-if/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [The rich rob the poor and the poor rob one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/the-rich-rob-the-poor-and-the-poor-rob-one-another/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [“You may hiss as much as you please, but women will get their rights anyway”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/you-may-hiss-as-much-as-you-please-but-women-will-get-their-rights/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Then I will speak upon the ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/then-i-will-speak-upon-the-ashes/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I am free when I allow my life to unfold. As soon as I restrict myself to new outcomes, I've got shackles on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-am-free-when-i-allow-my-life-to-unfold-as-soon-as-i-restrict-myself/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Christ came from God and a woman. Man had nothing to do with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/christ-came-from-god-and-a-woman-man-had-nothing-to-do-with-him/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [I did not run away, I walked away by daylight….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-did-not-run-away-i-walked-away-by-daylight/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) [Explore all 67 Sojourner Truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am above eighty years old ... 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