1851 – Abolitionist Sojourner Truth Delivers “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech

On May 21, 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered her iconic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio—a moment that resonated internationally. Born into slavery in New York, Truth became a traveling abolitionist and women\’s rights advocate whose message crossed continents. Her powerful words addressed both racial and gender inequality, highlighting the double oppression faced by Black women. The speech was widely circulated and translated, reaching audiences in Europe and the Caribbean, where abolitionist movements were also gaining momentum. Though delivered in the U.S., the speech echoed across the Atlantic, reinforcing that Black liberation must be intersectional. May 21 thus stands as a key date in global Black feminist thought, connecting the struggles of enslaved and formerly enslaved people in the Americas to broader demands for justice. Sojourner Truth’s message remains a cornerstone of both abolitionist and feminist history worldwide.