The Grimké Sisters By Mia LivneEarly LifeSarah and Angelina Grimké were born on the turn of the 19th century.
The Grimké sisters were born on a plantation farm in South Carolina to a slave owning family. After their father died they moved to Philadelphia. There, they converted to Quakerism, but were later rejected by Quakers for being public about their reform work. The Grimké sisters were feminists and abolitionists. 1Sarah GrimkéSarah Grimké was the older sister of the two. She was also the lesser known sister as she was shyer than her sister, so she let her take the lead. Grimké was a very spiritual person, and at the age of 13 became her younger sister’s godmother.
Sarah Grimké cared for her younger sister so much that until Angelina Grimké turned 20, she called Sarah Grimké mother. Grimké died on December 23, 1873. 2//3 Angelina GrimkéAngelina Grimké was the younger sister of the two Grimkés.
The more adventurous sister, she wrote a letter that kickstarted the two Grimké’s campaign. This was a personal letter written to William Lloyd Garrison, but after reading it, he decided to publish it in his newspaper, The Liberator. Grimké married Theodore Weld, another American abolitionist. Sadly, Angelina Grimké died on October 26, 1879.
FeminismDuring the time of the Grimké sisters campaign, women were not expected to speak publicly about politics. Many letters were written by Sarah Grimké, and were later all collected and published as a book called Letters on the Equality of the Sexes. This book was the one that best voiced Sarah Grimkés feminist beliefs. Members of the Congressional General Association declared their disapproval of women who strayed outside of societal gender norms in a “ Pastoral letter” after reading this work. This letter however, did not slow the Grimké sisters down.
They often spoke as many times as 6 a week and always had a considerable audience. Abolitionism- starting out The Grimké sisters were born to a wealthy family who participated in the act of owning slaves. Growing up, the sisters has enjoyed the luxury and easiness of having slaves. When they grew up they grew up they managed to spin their view of slavery and see the evils of it. When their father became ill, they moved to Philadelphia where their father seeked care. After being welcomed by the Quakers, they converted to Quakerism. In the early 1830s, the Grimké sisters were following a quiet life of religious service, but soon became interested in ending slavery.
The Grimkés spoke about slavery as an American problem not as a slave problem, and soon became known as ‘ The Grimké Sisters’. AbolitionismThe Grimké sisters were credible speakers as they were able to give firsthand accounts of slavery. They were able to criticize it as people who grew up on a slave owning plantation, not just as outsiders. The sisters had faced disapproval from southerners as well as Quakers for being activists and supporting anti-slavery. Sarah Grimké received a letter from the state of South Carolina saying she would not be allowed back in the state because of her reform work. AbolitionismThe Grimkés stopped public speaking in 1838, but they kept being involved in aboliion for the rest of their lives. Picture 1: https://www. floridamemory. com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/plantations/plantations3. phpPicture 2: https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sarah_Moore_Grimk%C3%A9
