Angelina Grimke

Angelina Grimke (1806-1879) was the daughter of a wealthy slave-owner in South Carolina. She and her sister, Sarah, were distressed as they witnessed the lives of slaves who lived on their father's plantation. They moved north and began writing and speaking publicly about slavery and women's rights. People were shocked. Never had women taken such a public stand and, even though their lectures drew large crowds, they were often threatened by those who thought their behavior "unnatural" and dangerous. Angelina urged the women of the north to influence their menfolk against slavery. Because they had no vote, she encouraged them to draw up petitions to send to Washington and express themselves in that way.