This quote is from Sojourner Truth's famous speech delivered at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. It highlights the intersections of race and gender in the fight for equality, addressing the disparities faced by African American women in the broader suffrage movement. Truth's speech is a powerful call for justice and recognition of the rights denied to both African Americans and women during that time.
it derives from a 15th Century word 'Kilter or Kelter' meaning 'good condition' Further to that origin unknown. Off kilter thus meaning not functioning properly.
The expression "off-kilter" uses the word kilter, which means "good condition". To be off-kilter is to be out of good condition, or faulty. The word is first seen in the 1630's and 40's, as the English word "kelter". Other than this, the origin is unknown.
Kilter
This was a partial quote. It was the beginning of a women's rights speech she gave in 1951. The speech is called, "Ain't I a Woman?" The begining of the speech went: "Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?" Sojourner was explaining that many of the white men of the time did not see women or blacks as equals. They felt women needed to be helped into carraiges and over mud puddles, but as a woman, she had plowed fields and gathered crops. There were more to women than many men of the time believed, and they were pushing for rights. She was saying that as women and blacks started gaining rights, it was going to turn against everything these men believed.
kilter
askew
The phrase "off kilter" originated in the mid-19th century and initially referred to an unbalanced or tilted position of a machine or object. Figuratively, it came to mean something or someone that is not quite right or out of sync. It is believed to have derived from the Scottish word "kelter," which means "good condition" or "order."
The cast of Off Kilter TV - 2012 includes: Zac Currier as Lambert Caroline Andrew Elledge Nick Estep Corey Krueger
This means something is out of kilter in the alignment or steering itself. The adjustment/repair is not at the steering wheel only.
killer, kilter, kisser
Yes, but he's so goofy and off-kilter he doesn't get very far in his villainy.
CANTER