During the nineteenth century, the two sisters, Sarah and Angelina Grimke, fought for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. The two women published written work as well as making public speeches. Although their lives were different from other abolitionists, the two still believed in equality. After their conversion to the Quaker religion, the two women spent the rest of their lives as "abolitionists and women's rights activists" ("Sarah").
Sarah, the older of the two, was born in 1792. Thirteen years later, in 1805 Angelina was born. Both sisters were born in Charleston, South Carolina (Robbins). Although both of their parents were alive for a good portion of their lives, Sarah became more a substitute mother to Angelina ("Sarah"). Sarah was the first to convert to the Quaker religion in Philadelphia after her father died in 1919 ("Sarah"). After being fed up with the slavery on her home plantation, Angelina makes her move to Philadelphia to stay with her sister (Robbins 3). There they begin to fight for their causes.
The Grimke sisters had witnessed slavery first hand on their home plantation. They had the knowledge of what life was like in the North and the South; this made it possible for them to reach many people in society about the issue of slavery ("Sarah"). The two were held up because of their past lives because they could "testify as eye-witnesses against the monstrous evils of slavery (Birney 161). They used this knowledge as a tool to publish pamphlets and books against slavery, which also had a great impact upon the masses (Robbins 4).
The women decided to travel to New York after an invitation from Mrs. parker. Angelina encouraged Sarah, who needed convincing, by explaining the prejudice against women to speak out to audiences (Birney 154). The Grimke sisters worked with men of the American Anti-slavery Society, whose knowledge was great but "their devotion to the cause of abolition was pure" (Birney 155-156). Later they took a trip, touring 67 cities "breaking new ground for women as public speakers" (Robbins 5). Along with all of their speeches, Angelina was "the first American woman to address a state legislature" ("Sarah"). They made great strides for the public speaking of women in the 1830's and 1840's.
The two women proved to be strong, independent, and skillful in getting their points across. They faced challenges and came to realize the need for women's rights in order to get their voices heard. This was difficult because "their sex would be used against them as another way of attacking the anti-slavery movement" ("Sarah"). Since they were not only fighting for women but against slavery, there were dual reasons to dispute the women. They did not stop though "Their broad views...opened up the subject of women's duties under the existing state of public sentiment" (Birney 174).
The Grimke sisters used their time to promote equality for women and African Americans. Sarah died in 1873, and Angelina died six years later in 1879 (Robbins). With the great strides that they made as public speakers and producing written works, it is no wonder that Sunshine for Women feel that they should be on the list of Influential Women of the Millennium.
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Additional Links to the Grimke sisters and other women
Heath Anthology Homepage
Sunshine for Women
Gale Resources
