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18 Cardozo L. Rev. 309 (1996 - 1997)
Finding Sojourner's Truth: Race, Gender, and the Institution of Property

handle is hein.journals/cdozo18 and id is 327 raw text is: FINDING SOJOURNER'S TRUTH: RACE, GENDER, AND THE INSTITUTION OF PROPERTY Cheryl I. Harris* I want to say a few words about this matter. I am for 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 woman have a pint and man a quart-why can't she have her little pint full? You Wall, chilern, whar dar is so much racket dar must be somethin' out o' kilter. I tink dat 'twixt de nig- gers of de Souf and de womin at de Norf, all talkin' 'bout rights, de white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all dis here talkin' 'bout? Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted ober ditches, and to hab de best place everywhar. Nobody eber helps me into carriages, or ober mud- puddles, or gibs me any best place! ... And a'n't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! ... * Visiting Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law 1996-1997; Assistant Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, lIT; Wellesley College, B.A. 1973; Northwestern Uni- versity, J.D. 1978. I owe thanks to many people for the development of this project: El Gates who had the insight and energy to convene the symposium; the UCLA School of Law Faculty Symposium and Columbia Law School's Legal Theory Workshop for provid- ing the opportunity for discussion and helpful criticism; and to the numerous and generous readers of the manuscript as it progressed. They include Laura G6mez, Rick Abel, Doro- thy Roberts, Neil Gotanda, Steven Yeazell, Kimberld W. Crenshaw, Isabel Gunning, Ken- neth Karst, Kendall Thomas, Stephen Munzer, and Clyde Spillenger. Also, I especially want to acknowledge the thoughtful comments of Mary Louise Fellows, Christine Lit- tleton, Robert Goldstein, and Lisa Ikemoto, who read with critical eyes that also saw my message. The work of Professor Nell Painter was also important for this project and I want to thank Professor Painter for her generosity in providing me with the manuscript of her important book prior to its release. The assistance of the patient and resourceful library staff of UCLA was invaluable as was the research assistance provided by Joy St. John, Patricia Henley, and Patricia Oliver. Research support provided by UCLA School of Law was critical to this project. This work was also supported by the Marshall-Ewell Research Fund. This piece is dedicated to the spirit of Trina Grillo (USF) of the gentle voice and sharp insights on the intricate relationship between race and gender; to the spirit of W. Haywood Bums (CUNY), an exemplary drum major for justice and a person with a world-wide heart; to the spirit of M. Shanara Gilbert (CUNY), a tireless and committed worker dedi- cated to bringing truth to the phrase criminal justice as she criss-crossed the world from classroom to meeting room to courtroom, from Queens to Capetown. I remember and salute you all.

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