BIRTHDAYS
Sarah Grimké - November 26, 1792, Angelina Grimké February 20, 1805
ABOUT THEM
Sarah Grimké (1792-1873) and her sister Angelina Grimké (1805-1879)
were born in the South of the United States but from childhood believed
that all people, including slaves were created equal. As a child Sarah
tried to teach a slave to read and was severely punished. As adults
the Grimké sisters moved north and converted to Quakerism.
As the sisters
began to get involved with the abolitionist movement, they found even
the relatively liberal Quaker religion too restrictive for their beliefs
and powers. One of Angelina Grimké's letters about slavery was published,
making both sisters famous. They became the first women to speak to
"mixed" audiences of women and men. Their brilliant speeches
and books launched the movement for women's rights. They are primarily
credited with linking the women's rights movement to the anti-slavery
movement. They toured extensively throughout the United States and Angelina
Grimké was the first woman to address a legislative body in the United
States.
Sarah Grimké did
not marry for fear of becoming more of a slave than a wife.
Angelina Grimké
married Theodore Weld, an abolitionist, in 1838, but did not promise
"to obey." Weld also renounced his legal rights as husband
to own and manage his wife's property.
AWARDS/HONORS
- Angelina Grimké
was the first woman to address a legislative body in the United States
- The Grimké sisters
were the first women to speak to audiences of both women and men
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Public Years of Sarah and Angelina Grimké, Larry Ceplair
The Roots of American Feminist Thought, James Cooper and Sheila
McIsaac
The Abolitionists, Dan Lacy