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The Grimké Sisters

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
LINKS TO LEARN SO MUCH MORE
http://www.thomson.com/gale/grimkes.html
http://smith2.sewanee.edu/gsmith/courses/Religion391/DocsMilitantSouth/1836-AngelinaGrimke.html
http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/WomensStudies/ReadingRoom/History/Biographies/grimke-family


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