Maria Stewart was an African-American woman who became a journalist, teacher, lecturer, abolitionist, and women’s rights activist. In her “Why Sit Ye Here and Die?” speech, she highlighted several arguments in support of black people’s rights. The first is that black people should have the right to education, as white people. She claims that if she had been educated at an early age, she would have been able to spread her ideas more widely and further (Stewart, 1). The second is that black people are exploited as slaves for low pay. She states that they are forced to spend much money in the winter to heat the house, and women are engaged in hard work and spend all their earnings on their children (Stewart, 4). This speech aims to convey the listeners that black people can earn, develop, and just live as white.
In her speech, she addresses white women, telling them that they have a wonderful opportunity to improve their moral and mental abilities. Furthermore, she says that if black women who work in the kitchens of their owners had such an opportunity, they would definitely take it (Stewart, 3). Moreover, she appeals to the black free community to help their children not suffer the same servile fate as unfree black people and to help them not become victims of a terrible state of degradation (Stewart, 3). Perhaps it would really help some to get out of the obligation to be a servant.
Stewart’s speech was most probably criticized because it united all black people who were under the rule of white people and served them as slave labor, and did not have the opportunity to live and develop (Stewart, 4). Although some are more comfortable and calmer to be under the power and protection of their owner. It was concluded that everything depends on the people, because black ones who serve can choose for themselves another life independent of white people.