Equality
The prevailing theme of Truth's speech is equality—both between women and men, and between black and white. From the start, with her opening comparison between herself and woman's rights, she introduces the subject. She goes on to provide evidence for her assertion of equality, first by comparing her capacity for labor and strength with any man's, and then invoking biblical imagery and narratives to align her cause of equality with her Christian faith.
Labor
An important theme in Truth's speech is physical and mental labor. First, she uses examples of the work she presumably did as a slave—"I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed"—to demonstrate that her capacity for physical strength is as great as any man's. Second, she discusses intellect. While she graciously nods to the insulting but common opinion that women have lesser intelligence than men, she compares the two to highlight the fact that both sexes possess a mind and both should be afforded the opportunity to use it.
Christianity
Truth's Christian faith emerges quite strongly in this speech. Much of the evidence she provides for her message comes from religious stories. She utilizes narratives both from the Old Testament—Adam and Eve, for example—and the New Testament—the story of Lazarus as well as the birth of Jesus. It is no surprise that Truth's speech is laden with Christian imagery, as her main profession at the time was traveling the country preaching the word of God alongside advocating for women's rights and abolition.
