On this date in 1851, Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) delivered a speech that came to be known as "Ain't I a Woman?" at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech is believed to have been extemporaneous. It was briefly reported in two newspapers at the time, and a transcript was published in the Anti-Slavery Bugle that June. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York. Some time after gaining her freedom in 1827, she became a well-known anti-slavery speaker. In her speech, Truth questions the treatment of white women compared to black women. Seemingly pointing out a man in the room, Truth says, "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere." She exclaims that no one ever does any of these things for her, repeating the question, "And ain't I a woman?" several times. She says that she has worked and birthed many children, making her as much a woman as anyone else. Despite giving birth to children just like white women did, black women were not treated with the same respect as white women. Black women were women, but because their race was seen as inferior, being a woman did not mean much if they were not white. Be sure to read the Wikipedia article, which describes the context of the speech in the convention and the varioius versions of the speech that were recorded. In particular, the title "Ain't I a Woman?" was not used until her query appeared in an 1863 transcript. Credit: https://w.wiki/ANy5 Poetrait: Circa 1864, Author Unknown, Public Domain https://w.wiki/Pwv$ What a perfectly enjoyable ride! Only my third ride on the gravel bike. I wanted to get more familiar with it before I attach the rack and the kick stand from my Trek hybrid. Before the ride, I adjusted the seat a bit. This was my first ride on the Straggler with the seat off the Trek hybrid, and I found it didn't bother me a bit. (Unlike the seat that came stock with the Straggler, but maybe that was an adjustment problem.) I'm still considering getting another Brooks saddle for the Straggler, to match the Domane. Today I did significant climbing, which won't be my typical use of the Straggler, unless it becomes my primary bike. I mostly got it for the bike tours that include some dirt. But today proved again that the lower gears benefit me climbing. I focused today on reducing the effort I put in on climbs, even if it meant falling below 80 cadence. And I was still faster on the steep bits than I can maintain on the road bike. I rode down Bean Creek Road to see if its very poor pavement is less annoying on the gravel bike. And it was! It made me very happy that I can maneuver the Straggler with more confidence, ride through the rough bits, and even go over some of the root heaves that could knock down a road bike. The Glenwood descent also was far more enjoyable: There are lots of stretches of bad pavement on Glenwood, and I just didn't have to avoid as many of them. Plus: On the Straggler, I was probably slower around the tight corners on Glenwood, but they were less anxious, because I feel more secure on a bike with more traction and momentum. The weather was perfect. Cool and cloudy in the hills, but sunny at Bicycle Trip, who graciously let me park the van whil I rode, so the van's camping battery got some good charge from the solar panel. I'll ask a friend to recommend some actual gravel routes.