Born: 1805 (Charleston, South Carolina)
Biography:
Angelina Emily Grimké Weld was born on February 20, 1805, in Charleston, South Carolina. She was one of 14 children born to John Faucheraud Grimké and Mary Smith, both from wealthy planter families. Angelina’s father was an Anglican lawyer, politician, and judge, while her mother was a descendant of South Carolina Governor Thomas Smith. Growing up, Angelina experienced the privileges and luxuries associated with her family’s plantation, but she was also exposed to the cruelty of slavery that was deeply ingrained in Southern society.
Despite coming from a household that believed women should be subordinate to men, Angelina and her sisters were provided with an education. While her father only intended to educate his male children, Angelina and her sisters were able to share the boys’ studies. This early exposure to education would later shape Angelina’s views and fuel her passion for social justice.
In her early years, Angelina became increasingly involved in religious activity. She embraced the teachings of the Quakers and developed a strong faith. Her religious beliefs played a significant role in shaping her activism and commitment to fighting for equality and justice.
Angelina and her sister Sarah Moore Grimké spent their entire adult lives in the North, despite being born and raised in the South. As adults, they lived together and became known as the only notable examples of white Southern women abolitionists. Angelina’s greatest fame came between 1835 and 1838 when she emerged as a prominent abolitionist and women’s rights advocate.
In 1835, William Lloyd Garrison published one of Angelina’s letters in his anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator. This catapulted her into the spotlight, and she started writing incisive arguments against slavery and advocating for women’s rights. She drew inspiration from natural rights theory, the United States Constitution, Christian beliefs, and her firsthand experiences of witnessing the cruelties of slavery and racism in the South.
Angelina and Sarah fiercely defended the right of women to speak in public and participate in political discourse when they were challenged for speaking to mixed audiences of men and women in 1837. They believed that women’s voices were essential in the fight for justice and equality, an idea that was revolutionary for the time.
In May 1838, Angelina married Theodore Dwight Weld, a prominent abolitionist. They settled in New Jersey with Sarah and raised three children. Angelina and Theodore supported themselves by running two schools, including one located in the Raritan Bay Union utopian community. After the Civil War, the family moved to Hyde Park, Massachusetts, where they spent their final years. Angelina and Sarah remained active in the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, continuing their fight for women’s rights.
Angelina Grimké Weld’s legacy as an abolitionist, political activist, and women’s rights advocate continues to be recognized and celebrated today. Her powerful speeches and writings laid the groundwork for the fight to end slavery and advance women’s rights. Through her unwavering dedication and courage, she left a lasting impact on society and played a crucial role in shaping women’s history.