Compare And Contrast Angelina Grimke And Sojourner Truth
analytical Essay
783 words
Angelina Grimke and Sojourner Truth were both prominent American civil rights activists of the 19th century who focused on the abolition of slavery and women’s rights issues, respectively. While both of these women challenged the societal beliefs of the United States at the time regarding these civil rights issues, the rhetorical strategies used by each of these women to not only illustrate their respective arguments but also to raise social awareness of these issues was approached in very different fashions. Angelina Grimke promoted the use of white middle-class women’s positions in the household to try to influence the decision makers, or men, around them. On the other hand, Sojourner Truth, a former slave turned women’s rights activist, …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Compares the rhetorical strategies used by angelina grimke and sojourner truth to illustrate their respective arguments and raise social awareness of these issues.
- Analyzes how angelina grimke, an abolitionist, abandoned the confederate mindset and used the stereotypical female societal roles in her four pronged "appeal to the women of the nominally free states."
- Analyzes how sojourner truth's use of stereotypes regarding women was a means of highlighting the equality between men and women.
Still, her deviation from the confederate mindset did not cause her to necessarily promote total equality between men and women. As an abolitionist, Grimke suggested that women use their submissive positions in the household in order to influence heir husbands. Furthermore, Grimke’s tone and proposals differed as she targeted women from the North and the South. Grimke recognized that in the common Southern household, the woman would take the place of a homemaker and nurturer, qualities still primarily associated with women, and she used these stereotypes to the abolitionist advantage. In her four pronged “An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South”, Grimke states that the Southern Christian Woman has four duties in regards to abolition: to read, pray, speak and act. These four steps to abolition use the place of white women in the common household to circumvent around the little power that they had at this time. Grimke’s tone changes in her “Appeal to the Women of the Nominally Free States”, as she now refers to black women as not just slaves but “sisters” to whom white women owe humanization. In a …show more content…
In the Women’s Rights Convention of 1851, Truth repeatedly equates her worth to that of a man by her physical and intellectual abilities. Some of Truth’s statements at this convention include: “I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I can carry as much as any mean, and I can eat as much too”. These statements highlight the fact that women were thought to have less physical and intellectual ability than men, and as such were afforded fewer rights. By recurrently equating herself to men in all of these arenas, Truth displayed the commonalities between men and women. Furthermore, Truth’s views came from the stance of a former African American slave, who were not. In this speech, Truth paralleled herself, a black woman, to have the same abilities as a white man, thereby attempting to change her audience’s view of the current existing American capitalist patriarchal structure that put white men at the top and women of color at the bottom of the
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- Contributions of Women Abolitionistsanalytical essayThe Abolitionist Movement transformed the role of women in American History. Prior to the abolitionist movement, women were viewed as invisible icons in society. A typical woman would only be responsible for motherhood duties, cleaning, and preparing food. While many women agreed with this, others did not. The desire to be heard and treated equally was something numerous women shared. Astonishing women like, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Grimke sisters became prominent leaders in the abolitionist movement and made a pathway in history by initiating speeches, participating in female politics and supporting their personal opinions of women’s rights through religious doctrines.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the abolitionist movement transformed the role of women in american history.
- Analyzes how sojourner truth, an african american woman and former slave, fights a double war within winning her rights.
- Opines that women could work and eat as much as men, and bear the lash as well.
- Analyzes how truth connects women's rights and abolition by defining women as men equal by including examples of their experiences.
- Explains that elizabeth cady stanton wrote the declaration of sentiments at the women's rights convention in 1848. the document outlines the unfair treatment of women while proposing several resolutions.
- Analyzes how the grimke sisters despised slavery and began fighting for abolition and women's rights.
- Analyzes how sarah grimke's "legal disabilities of women" explains how women are invisible in society, first by marriage, then by their representation in government.
- Opines that women found their voice in the abolitionist movement by initiating speeches, participating in female politics, and supporting their personal opinions of women's rights through religious doctrines.
- Explains that sarah grimké argues for women's rights | teach us history.
783 wordsRead More - Comparison of Letters to Catherine Beecher by Angelina Grimke and Ain't I A Woman? by Sojourner Truthanalytical essayThe 19th century was a time of great social change in the United States as reflected by the abolitionist movement and the women’s suffrage movement. Two very influential women leaders were Angelina Grimke and Sojourner Truth. Grimke was born a Southern, upper class white woman. She moved to the North as a young woman, grew involved in abolitionism and women’s rights, and became known for her writing, particularly “Letters to Catherine Beecher”. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree; she escaped to freedom, changed her name, and became an active speaker on behalf of both the abolition and women’s rights movements. Truth’s most famous speech is “Ain’t I a Woman?”. While both Grimke and Truth use a personal, conversational tone to communicate their ideas, Grimke relies primarily on logical arguments and Truth makes a more emotional appeal through the use of literary strategies and speech.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 19th century was a time of great social change in the united states as reflected by the abolitionism and women’s suffrage movement.
- Analyzes how angelina grimke wrote a number of letters, addressed to catherine beecher, in response to becher's an essay on slavery and abolitionism with reference to the duty of american females.
- Analyzes how grimke's writing appeals to the reader primarily on a rational level. the thesis of her letter is centered on the idea that both men and women are moral beings.
- Analyzes how grimke appealed to the parallel anti-slavery movement by expressing her support of the abolitionists and suggesting similarities between slavery and women oppression.
- Analyzes how grimke subtly references literature, insinuating that she is a knowledgeable woman. she evokes memories of the country's initial struggle for independence from the british.
- Analyzes how grimke's weaker argument centers around religion. she counters with the bible’s lines where eve is made from adam rib, emphasizing that woman was recognized by man as a part of himself.
- Analyzes how sojourner truth's religious points in "ain't i a woman?" are among her most successful.
- Analyzes how truth uses literary devices to elicit a response from her audience. she criticizes the white man's attitude towards african-americans and women.
- Compares the tone of "ain't i a woman?" to grimke's letter. truth is physically impressive, tall, and muscular.
- Compares how grimke and truth effectively argue for women's rights, though they use very different approaches.
1727 wordsRead More - The History Of Abolitionism And The Women's Rights Movementanalytical essayAccording to the text,” Abolitionism arose out of a deep religious conviction that slave-holding was a sin that the truly god-fearing had the obligation to eliminate.” (DuBois, 2012, p. 268). In 1936, Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society implored that each woman in the land must do a Christian woman’s duty, and the result cannot fail to be instant, peaceful, unconditional deliverance. Unlike any other movement seen before, women along with men would join into open conflict with America’s basic political and religious institutions. Sarah and Angelina Grimke rose to the roles as the leaders for the movement. They made many speeches to men and women regarding the issue and even found themselves condemned from the church for their actions. The need for change was growing over the overwhelming feel for abolishment of slavery as well as a role for women. In the 1840s, many leaders seen from the abolitionist movement moved to seek not only freedom from slavery but for the future of women as a whole. The Grimkes defense of their equal right to champion slaves led many women into the women’s rights movement. Female abolitionists faced discrimination within the movement, this then led to the need for a women’s rights movement. Pushback was also seen when women who supported the abolishment for slavery were treated the same as those being prosecuted by white religious women and men who saw their views as incorrect. A change was needed and
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement shared similar needs for change, the need to create leaders, and how both argued that civil rights should stand for the equality of women.
- Explains how the boston female anti-slavery society implored that each woman in the land must do a christian woman's duty and the result cannot fail to be instant, peaceful, unconditional deliverance.
- Analyzes how sarah and angelina grimke rose to the role of leadership not by choice but because they chose to believe something different.
- Analyzes how the anti-slavery writings of frances d. gage and marius robinson speak volumes about the struggle for women's rights.
- Explains that the american anti-slavery society and the non-garrisonians wanted to keep the issue of women's equality separate from that of abolition.
- Explains that slaves had no rights and were forced to return to plantations to provide for their families. sharecropping families kept only a portion of the crops they grew, without foremen to drive and beat them.
- Explains that the abolition and women's suffrage movements were both about fighting for civil rights, but how their rights were treated were completely different.
- Concludes that the abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement shared similar needs for change, the need to create leaders, and how both argued that civil rights should stand for the equality of women.
1711 wordsRead More - The Cruelty of Slavery and Opression in Americaanalytical essayThe United States of America is known for its claims of democracy, equality, and freedom for all of it’s citizens. These claims are the foundation of America’s independence and essentially its entire history. But “claims” are simply all they were in history. While many achieved equal democracy and freedom, the African-American population of the US was exempt from these “inalienable rights” and heavily oppressed by society. The cruelty of slavery and oppression as a whole reached its peak in the 19th century bringing upon the abolitionist movement, which eventually aided in the historic removal of slavery and the continued fight for equal right of citizenship for African-Americans. Of the many abolitionists who fought for equality in the 19th century, Angelina Grimke, Frederick Douglass, and Harriett Jacobs stand out as some of the most influential writers and orators of that time. Angelina Grimke was a white southern woman, who abandoned the south with her sister to denounce slavery and began to primarily focus on persuading white women to use what rights they had to act against slavery. Frederick Douglass was one of the most famous abolitionists in United States history. He used his literary expertise as well as his incredible first hand experience as a slave to publicly expose and condemn the evils of slavery. Lastly, but certainly not least, Harriet Jacobs was one of history’s most recognizable African-American writers due to her slave narrative “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”, where she exposed the wide array of perverted evils that occurred on plantations and destroyed the lives of many young girls and people in general. Each of these abolitionists were incredibly influential in their own ways but sh...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states of america is known for its claims of democracy, equality, and freedom, but the african-american population was exempt from these "inalienable rights" and oppressed by society.
- Analyzes how angelina grimke addresses all women as her "beloved sisters" in "an appeal to the women of the nominally free states."
- Analyzes how grimke uses evocative descriptions to show how slavery affects the already oppressed women in the country. she calls out northern women on their participation in slavery and religion to bring to light the wrongs that some women and people are doing.
- Analyzes frederick douglass' speech about the 4th of july in 1852, titled "what to the slave is the fourth of july".
- Analyzes how douglass' compelling arguments exposed the horrid nature of oppression to the northern united states and even to nave citizens in the south.
- Analyzes how harriet jacobs' "incidents in the life of a slave girl" exposes the terrible sexual assault of women in slavery.
- Analyzes how the abolitionist movement was influential in the removal of slavery, especially from the writing and oration of angelina grimke, frederick douglass, and harriet jacobs.
- Opines that "an appeal to the women of the nominally free states." letter to anti-slavery convention.
- Analyzes douglass, frederick, and seton hall's "what to the slave is the fourth of july."
- Opines that jacobs, harriet a., "the trials of girlhood." incidents in the life of a slave girl.
1584 wordsRead More - Sojourner Truth’s words in her speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” served as an anthem for women everywhere during her time. Truth struggled with not only racial injustice but also gender inequality that made her less than a person, and second to men in society. In her speech, she warned men of “the upside down” world against the power of women where “together, [women] ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!” Today, America proudly stands thinking that Truth’s uneasiness of gender inequality was put to rest. Oppression for women, however, continues to exist American literature has successfully captured and exposed shifts in attitude towards women and their roles throughout American history.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sojourner truth's words in her speech, "ain't i a woman?" served as an anthem for women everywhere during her time.
- Analyzes how kate chopin's novel, the awakening, challenges the traditional role of women in society. edna pontellier embodies female strength, bravery, and rebellion that women at the time of the novel lacked.
- Describes how the women's movement blossomed into voting rights, reproductive liberties, and the ability to work and get an education in the 20th century. f. scott fitzgerald noticed this shift and expressed it through his novel, the great gatsby.
- Analyzes how fitzgerald presents daisy, a married "girl" who eventually reunited with the lost love of her life, jay gatsby. although she explores her sexuality and runs off behind her husband tom's back, daisy continues to be oppressed.
- Analyzes how daisy exemplifies the loss of control in her life by expressing appreciation towards being a girl, especially "a beautiful little fool."
563 wordsRead More - In 1848, the convention in Seneca Falls, New York produced the “Declaration of Sentiments” in the name of American women, which was brought about by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Across the nation, groups came together holding conventions in direct reaction to the convention held at Seneca Falls, in addition to the consequential birth of women’s rights organizations. In 1851 at a convention in Ohio, Sojourner Truth, former slave and activist, gave her famous speech requesting that “if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again.” Just as Truth labored for women’s su...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the women's suffrage movement in the united states fought for their rights as humans during the late 19th and early 20th century.
- Explains that the declaration of sentiments was produced by elizabeth stanton and lucretia mott in 1848, and the birth of women's rights organizations. sojourner truth labored for women’s suffrage as well as former slaves.
- Explains that after the civil war, the women's movement began in its own right. the awsa and nwsa opposed the fifteenth amendment, which excluded african american women in support of "the negro’s hour."
- Describes how nawsa formed from the awsa and nwsa rejuvenating the fight for women's rights after a decade of little advance.
- Explains that the power needed to achieve suffrage could not be obtained without working-class women being active participants.
- Analyzes how the women's movement turned to the start of world war i, when the battle for women’s suffrage was seen as frivolous and disrespectful, but militant tactics by the nwp continued despite both negative public opinion and nawsa.
- Analyzes how gerda lerner commented on the inadequacy of the women's suffrage movement in a letter to betty friedman, author of feminine mystique.
- Cites duniway, abigail scott, luscomb, florence, and keller, helen, in modern american women: a documentary history, 2nd ed., edited by susan ware.
- Quotes ware, susan, in modern american women: a documentary history, 2nd ed., edited by horowitz, daniel.
- Quotes linda k. kerber, jane sherron de hart, and cornelia hughes dayton in women's america: refocusing the past, 269-271.
- Quotes klapper, melissa r., ballots, babies, and banners of peace: american jewish women’s activism, 1890-1940.
- Cites linda kerber, jane sherron de hart, and cornelia hughes dayton's "minor v. happersett, 1874."
809 wordsRead More - ...eenth century's most important woman's rights advocates, antislavery leaders, and feminist thinkers (Lerner). "Whatever is morally right for a man to do, it is morally right for a woman to do. I recognize no rights but human rights - I know nothing of men's rights and women's rights; for in Christ Jesus, there is neither male nor female" (Grimke, Angelina). "Here then I plant myself. God created us equal;- he created us free agents; - he is our Lawgiver, our King, and our Judge, and to him alone is woman bound to be in subjection, and to him alone is she accountable for the use of those talents with which Her Heavenly Father has entrusted her. One is her Master even Christ" (Grimke, Sarah). As women who spoke publicly against slavery and for women's rights, they continued to inspire female activists to not give up and keep fighting for all human beings to be equal.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sarah and angelina grimke were among the first women to become active public speakers in the abolitionist movement. they shared the same views and lived and worked together for much of their lives.
- Explains that the grimke sisters were born into a wealthy, well established southern family in charleston, south carolina.
- Describes how sarah and her father traveled to philadelphia to seek medical treatment due to their father's illness. they stayed in a quaker boarding house and grew fond of them.
- Analyzes how the transition to quakerism caused the sisters to become outcasts in their hometown and in most of the south.
- Describes how angelina and sarah moved to new york to begin their careers as agents for the abolitionist cause.
- Analyzes how angelina responded quickly with her letters to catherine beecher, which was published in 1837, defending her beliefs on slavery and the rights of women to participate in their society.
- Analyzes how the sisters reached out to queen victoria in hopes that she would make her decisions according to her religious beliefs and not from what men tell her to do.
- Describes how the grimke sisters ended their tour in 1837 and moved to new jersey, where they continued writing to support abolition and women's rights.
- Explains that sarah grimke died in 1873 at the age of 81, and angelina died six years later at age 74. they were important women's rights advocates, antislavery leaders and feminist thinkers.
2027 wordsRead More - A Fight For All Women By Harriet Jacobsanalytical essayIn particular, the author defines femininity and its ideals in the patriarchal society and exposes how the ideas of proper womanhood and ideals were dependent upon class and race. During the nineteenth-century, the “True Woman” was idealized as religiously pious, morally pure, submissive, and devoted to domesticity. This idealization was perpetuated by both male and females in the patriarchal society of antebellum America. Jacobs’ narrative shows that this idea of the ideal female was not obtainable for all, particularly enslaved black females in the South. Slaves were considered property under the law and were afforded no rights. The author notes, “according to Southern laws, a slave, being property, can hold no property” (923). For...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harriet jacobs' feminist approach to her autobiographical narrative incidents in the life of a slave girl brought to life the bondage placed on women during the nineteenth-century america.
- Analyzes how the "true woman" was idealized as religiously pious, morally pure, submissive, and devoted to domesticity.
- Explains that when the law of the land refused to recognize marriage contracts between enslaved persons, denied them protections from the patriarchal family, and posited them as lascivious and willing to engage in sexual acts, the sexual violation of slave girls and women was deemed no violation.
- Illustrates how jacobs had to deal with sexuality at a very early age in her life when her master dr. flint begins trying to seduce her pseudonym linda.
- Explains that slavery had polluted their mind with foul images, and destroyed the pure principles inculcated by their grandmother and the good mistress of their childhood.
- Analyzes how jacobs wanted her audience to understand that she had tried to be pure, but that virtue was basically impossible for the enslaved black female.
- Analyzes how dr. flint's patriarchal power as slaveholder and man and jacobs' refusal to be submissive as a female gave the power to overcome her oppressor.
- Analyzes how freedom of choice offered jacobs a stronger value than her virtue of purity.
- Analyzes how the lack of acceptance of incidents in the life of a slave girl is reflective of patriarchal society in antebellum america.
- Analyzes how the language and plot of these sections led some critics, such as john blassingame, to suspect that jacobs’s white editor, lydia maria child influenced the text.
- Argues that jacobs' female slave narrative would eventually be discovered as an important literary achievement for the woman slave and feminism.
- Analyzes how harriet jacobs' female slave narrative brought to the fore-front many issues relating to gender and sexuality in the patriarchal society of antebellum america.
1461 wordsRead More - All Men Are Created Equalanalytical essayAccording to the United States Constitution, one of the main aspects of America is that “all men are created equal”. Throughout history, this statement has proved to be controversial and hypocritical. Two groups that have faced discrimination and unequal opportunities have been women and African Americans. During the antebellum period, free African Americans and white women did not receive the same treatment as white men in America. White Women had to fulfill the roles that were assigned to them by men during this period. Catherine Beecher stated that, “heaven had designated man “the superior” and women “the subordinate””. Many people had this common belief that the differences and roles of men and women were natural and predetermined. It prevented women from having equal opportunities and rights. Free African Americans had a chance to express themselves, more than others, depending whether they lived in the North over the South. Even though there were some restrictions for free African Americans, many of them, especially in the North, were active in American society. They had opportunities to take part in activities and have influences in society unlike women did. Free African Americans experienced more liberty than white women did in pre-Civil War America because they did not have clear separated roles from white men like women did, free African Americans had more opportunities to voice their opinions and have an influence on society, and they could engage in achieving freedom for other free Africans easier than women could for themselves.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states constitution states that all men are created equal, which is controversial and hypocritical. free african americans had more freedom than white women in pre-civil war america.
- Explains that free-african americans had more opportunities to impact society and to set forth their opinions than white women did.
- Explains that free-african americans wanted to use the freedoms that they had gained to help other blacks achieve freedom in america. women were timid to join certain organizations and felt their voices would not be heard or taken seriously.
- Explains that free-african americans experienced more liberty than white women during pre-civil war america. white men prevented women from fighting for their rights, rally groups, and experience liberty.
- Analyzes how free african americans were not required to have certain roles in society like white women did during the pre-civil war era.
1453 wordsRead More - Sarah and Angelina Grimkéanalytical essayUp until and during the mid -1800’s, women were stereotyped and not given the same rights that men had. Women were not allowed to vote, speak publically, stand for office and had no influence in public affairs. They received poorer education than men did and there was not one church, except for the Quakers, that allowed women to have a say in church affairs. Women also did not have any legal rights and were not permitted to own property. Overall, people believed that a woman only belonged in the home and that the only rule she may ever obtain was over her children. However, during the pre- Civil war era, woman began to stand up for what they believed in and to change the way that people viewed society (Lerner, 1971). Two of the most famous pioneers in the women’s rights movement, as well as abolition, were two sisters from South Carolina: Sarah and Angelina Grimké.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that women were stereotyped and not given the same rights as men. they were not allowed to vote, speak publically, stand for office, and have no influence in public affairs.
- Explains that sarah and angelina were thirteen years apart, born to john fauchereau grimké, a colonel in the revolutionary war, who married mary smith, and the couple had fourteen children.
- Explains that sarah was the sixth child. she was intellectual, personable, empathetic, caring, and spent time with the slaves at her father's plantation.
- Narrates how sarah's life encountered a major turning point when she met many well-known quakers while traveling to philadelphia. she was interested in their beliefs and views on life and what was occurring in society.
- Narrates how angelina and sarah were close as children and showed admiration for the salves on her plantation. she refused to be confirmed by the episcopal church.
- Describes how angelina and sarah rebelled against quaker society and became activists for slavery, women's rights, and religious freedom.
- Describes how sarah and angelina put most of their energy into abolitionist movements. they organized the anti-slavery convention of american women in 1837.
- Analyzes how the grimké sisters faced much rejection and resentment from many members of society. they were southern ladies, the only white southern ladies to ever embrace the abolitionist cause publically.
- Analyzes how the grimké sisters were attacked for being abolitionists and women's rights when they spoke to mixed sex audiences, which was not common at the time. the council of congregational ministers of massachusetts publicly denounced the sisters.
- Describes how sarah became involved in women's rights after the sisters were denounced. she published letters on the equality of the sexes, and the condition of woman.
- Recounts how angelina married theodore dwight weld, a presbyterian and fellow abolitionist, in 1838. the society of friends expelled both sisters for their actions.
- Describes how sarah, angelina, and theodore relocated to fort lee, new jersey. they published american slavery as it is: testimony of a thousand witnesses.
- Narrates how the welds relocated to bellville, new jersey, after angelina gave birth to her and theodore's first child, making the house in fort lee too small for their growing family. the sisters retired from the anti-slavery movement.
- Narrates how the welds moved to a large, fifty-acre farm in 1848 and began taking in boarding students. angelina and sarah did all the household work and helped out with instruction.
- Explains that the weld family and sarah moved to perth amboy, new jersey in 1854 to open a second school.
- Explains that the grimké sisters endorsed the civil war only by seeing it as the final stand against the hated slavery system. they taught in a young ladies' boarding school massachusetts until it was burned down in 1867.
- Opines that angelina and sarah grimké's contributions to the abolition and women’s rights movements were pivotal to our country’ s toleration today.
1974 wordsRead More