Lift Up Thy Voice: The Grimké Family's Journey from Slaveholders to Civil Rights LeadersTHE STORY OF RACE CONSCIOUSNESS AND POLITICS IN AMERICA TOLD THROUGH THE LIVES OF ONE EXTRAORDINARY FAMILYBy the beginning of the 19th century, the American south encompassed two strikingly different societies: one lived as wealthy slaveholders, and the other lived under the lash. Daughters of a prominent slaveholding family in Charleston, South Carolina, Sarah and Angelina GrimkÉ, vowed to change the dynamics of their harsh society. The sisters (mostly in secret) began to educate their slaves as best they could, by teaching them reading and religion-and the basic rights to which all humans are entitled. Eventually they moved to the north, where they dedicated their lives to abolitionism and advocacy of women's rights.In 1868, Angelina and Sarah discovered that their deceased brother had had children with a slave. True to their ideals, the GrimkÉ sisters invited their nephews into their lives, helped educate them, and gave them the means to start a new life. Archibald and Francis GrimkÉ continued their aunts' fight for racial equality into the early decades of the 20th century, involving themselves in the founding of the NAACP and becoming two of the most notable African-Americans of their time. The GrimkÉs' work helped to lay the groundwork of the civil rights movement to follow-and, as Perry notes, helped to shape many kinds of American social activism.At once an inspiring social history and a fascinating group biography, LIFT UP THY VOICE: The GrimkÉ Family's Journey from Slaveholders to Civil Rights Leaders illustrates how the question of race dominates American history. This family saga, which spans 150 years, is a book for anyone interested in women's history, African-American history, the Civil War-for anyone who cares about making America a better place to live. |
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Page 1
... intelligence , but it bothered him that she pursued a life of books and learning . This was not what he wanted for her . Nor , he be- lieved , was it what young ladies should do . Sometimes she could carry things too far . When he ...
... intelligence , but it bothered him that she pursued a life of books and learning . This was not what he wanted for her . Nor , he be- lieved , was it what young ladies should do . Sometimes she could carry things too far . When he ...
Page 25
... intelligence and insight for a barbarous people whose " immorality " was " almost inherent . " For women such as Mary Smith Grimké , the lack of morals among the slaves was obvious , for she and other Southern women saw it every day in ...
... intelligence and insight for a barbarous people whose " immorality " was " almost inherent . " For women such as Mary Smith Grimké , the lack of morals among the slaves was obvious , for she and other Southern women saw it every day in ...
Page 38
... intelligence , he also valued her good judgment and her companionship . He was proud of his sons and their professional accomplishments , but Sarah was more like him than any of his other children . During the long hours aboard ship ...
... intelligence , he also valued her good judgment and her companionship . He was proud of his sons and their professional accomplishments , but Sarah was more like him than any of his other children . During the long hours aboard ship ...
Contents
They shall be your bondmen for ever | 11 |
a stern and relentless God | 35 |
He trod the pulpit like a giant | 55 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
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Lift Up Thy Voice: The Sarah and Angelina Grimké Family's Journey from ... Mark Perry Limited preview - 2002 |
Lift Up Thy Voice: The Sarah and Angelina Grimké Family’s Journey from ... Mark Perry Limited preview - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
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