Angelina Grimke

Angelina Grimke was the daughter of a judge from Charleston, South Carolina. She was born on February 20, 1805. Her father was a slave owner but Angelina and her sister both disliked slavery. After they moved to Philadelphia, she and her sister joined the Society of Friends. She wrote a letter against slavery that was later published in the newspaper The Liberator. Her sister later wrote a letter as well. These appeals to the Christian Women of the South were burned by officials. The sisters later moved to New York and were the first women to lecture for the Anti-Slavery Society. Religious leaders did not approve of the public speaking and tried to shut the sisters down. This only drove the sisters to begin to fight for women’s rights. In 1838 Angelina married the anti-slavery campaigner Theodore Weld. They later settled down in New Jersey with Angelina’s sister and opened their own school. Angelina was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln, writing and speaking in support for him. She moved to Massachusetts after the war with her husband and continued to fight for civil rights and woman’s suffrage.

Angelina Grimke was a great woman. I think it takes a lot for a girl to be against slavery when her father full supports it. I am sure her father was a very intimidating man considering he was a judge! I wonder how her father felt about her and her sister acting against slavery. It is also very impressive to speak in public about slavery and women’s rights. I have a lot of respect, not just for Angelina and her sister, but for all the people who spoke out and still speak out. This was very brave, especially during Angelina’s time, where police officials would arrest people anytime a group formed. This was also a time where freedom of speech was not yet distinguished, which made fighting against slavery and for women’s rights that much more of a challenge.

Angelina’s speech in Pennsylvania was so moving because she was a woman from the South. Her speech was so influential because she spoke from experience. She mentions that she has experienced first- hand the unhappiness of slavery and that there can never be happiness in such a life. She also says that she is ashamed of her “native land” and that she exiled herself because the slavery and ability of a person to have a slave made her cry constantly. This is something that speaks to a lot of people because people are typically very proud of where they come from, but in this case Angelina is saying she is ashamed and embarrassed. The fact that Angelina is a woman plays a very important role as well. She begins by saying that men have the ability to vote on the subject of slavery, but women do not. Therefore, it is imperative for women to petition, for women to have their voice heard and make a difference. She points out that the petitions women have been involved in do not go unheard. The news of women petitioning against slavery is well known across the land and women in England helped abolish slavery in their colonies. Just because men are the ones who can vote and own slaves, it does not mean women cannot make a difference. Angelina’s speech is very inspirational. She has a first- hand experience with slavery and understands living in the North and the South. She also connects to the women of the country by motivating them to make a difference as well. It is speakers like Angelina and her sister that made history happen.