The main idea of the "Why sit here and die?" speech by Maria W. Stewart is to urge African Americans to take action and fight for their freedom and rights instead of accepting oppression and injustice. Stewart criticizes the passivity of African Americans and calls for them to resist enslavement and advocate for emancipation. She emphasizes the importance of education and self-improvement as tools for achieving equality and upliftment. The speech serves as a rallying cry for African Americans to unite and regain their dignity and agency.
