Angelina and Sarah Grimke

Today, Feb 20, in 1805, Angelina Grimke was born into a prominent slave-owning family in Charleston, SC. She grew up, moved North, and became an eloquent and fearless orator in the struggle to abolish slavery and a determined defender of women’s right to speak in public. In 1838, she spoke for two hours and a half to a mixed audience — women & men, black and white– packed into the Massachusetts State House. “She appeared not at all abashed in exhibiting herself in a position so unsuited to her sex,” concluded one reporter. Angelina once said, “We Abolition Women are turning the world upside down.” And she was right! The photo is of Angelina (right) and her sister Sarah (Sarah), also an abolitionist and fighter for women’s rights.

#womensrights #abolitionist #AngelinaGrimke #slaver #SarahGrimke