Barbara's Scripts
Scene from The Libyan Sybil: Sojourner Truth

A hush begins to fall over the group as the dark figure sitting in the corner unwinds herself and steps up on the platform. Commanding.

A woman anxiously runs to Frances Gage.

WOMAN

Don't let her speak, Miss Gage. We'll
be utterly denounced, mixed up with
abolitionists.

Frances ignores the woman, looks at Sojourner a long moment, nods, and leaves the platform.

Sojourner approaches the podium with great presence. She carefully takes off the bonnet, folds it, and lays it down.

Her penetrating eyes move around the room seeming to fall on every individual.  Several shift restlessly in their seats.  Total silence.

SOJOURNER
(sighing)

Well children, where there is so much
racket, there must be something out of
kilter. I think between the Negroes of
the South and the women of the North
all talking about rights, the white men
will be in a fix pretty soon.  And that's
what this is all about!

She shoots a finger at the man sitting in the back.

SOJOURNER

That man back there says women need to
be helped into carriages and lifted over
ditches and to have the best everywhere.
(softly) Nobody ever helps me into carriages,
over mud puddles, or gets me any best
place and (loudly) aren't I a woman?

She rolls up her sleeves and raises her powerful right arm high in the air.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

Look at me.  Look at my arm. I have
plowed, and I have planted, and I have
gathered into barns. And no man could
outwork me.  And aren't I a woman? (pause)
I could work as much and eat as much and
bear the lash as well as any man.  And
aren't I a woman?  I have borne children
and seen them sold into slavery, and when
I cried out with a mother's grief, none but
Jesus heard me. And aren't I a woman?

She stops and surveys the individuals again. People lean forward, mesmerized.

With a quick motion, she points a finger at Minister #1.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

This man talks about this thing in the head.

She looks down at Lucretia.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

What's it called?

LUCRETIA

Intellect.

SOJOURNER

That's it, honey. (to audience) What's
intellect got to do with women's rights?
Colored folks' rights? If my cup won't
hold but a pint, and yours a quart, wouldn't
you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?

A few women APPLAUD with delight.

She thrusts her finger at Minister #2.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

That little man there! He says women
can't have rights like men cause Christ
wasn't a woman.

She stretches her arms out in a cross and rocks the hall with her voice.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

Where did your Christ come from? From
God and a WOMAN. Man had nothing
to do with Him.

LAUGHTER, CHEERS from the women.

Sojourner, eyes twinkling, addresses the women.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

If the first woman God ever made was
strong enough to turn the world upside
down all alone, then these women here
together ought to be able to turn it back
and get it right side up again.  (to men)
(booming voice) And now that they are
asking to do it, the men had better
let them.

She picks up her bonnet.

SOJOURNER
(continuing)

Obliged to you for hearing me.