Downtown in Akron in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sojourner Truth
May 29, 1851
Universalist Stone Church
Akron, Ohio
“May I say a few words?”
I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman’s rights. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal. I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now.
As for intellect, all I can say is, if a woman have a pint, and a man a quart — why can’t she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much, — for we can’t take more than our pint’ll hold. The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don’t know what to do. Why children, if you have woman’s rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won’t be so much trouble.
I can’t read, but I can hear. I have heard the Bible and have learned that Eve caused man to sin. Well, if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again. The lady has spoken about Jesus, how he never spurned woman from him, and she was right. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha came to him with faith and love and besought him to raise their brother. And Jesus wept — and Lazarus came forth. And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and woman who bore him. Man, where was your part? But the women are coming up, blessed be God, and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard.
Born Isabella Baumfree.
1826
Self emancipates as Isabella Van Wagenen.
1843
Changes name to Sojourner Truth.
1851
Speaks at Ohio Women's Rights Convention
Universalist Stone Church.
1861
Civil War begins
arrested at Pro-Union Rally.
1865
Civil War ends
fought streetcar discrimination.
1870
Begins last speaking tour.
1883
Passes away
Battlecreek, Michigan.
Erected 2024.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 29, 1851.
Location. 41° 5.167′ N, 81° 30.884′ W. Marker is in Akron, Ohio, in Summit County. It is in Downtown.
It is on North High Street south of Martin Luther King Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 37 N High St, Akron OH 44308, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Artists in the Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Site of Sojourner Truth's Speech on Women's Rights (within shouting distance of this marker); United Rubber Workers International Union (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Howard Street District (about 700 feet away); George W. Mathews (about 700 feet away); Creating Crossroads of Commerce (about 800 feet away); Heating a City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fueling Growth in a New Century (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Akron.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 22, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. 6, 7. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.






