Sarah Grimké Tells Her Story about Her Fight Against Slavery and For Woman's Rights

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My name is Sarah Grimké, and I was born on November 26, 1792, in Charleston, South Carolina. I grew up in a world where wealth and power were built on the backs of enslaved people. My family was one of the most prominent slaveholding families in the South, and as a child, I witnessed the cruelty and injustice of slavery firsthand. Even as a little girl, I knew in my heart that it was wrong, and I longed for a world where all people were treated equally. That belief would shape my entire life and lead me down a path of activism alongside my beloved sister, Angelina.

As the second oldest of 14 children, I was expected to follow the typical path for a woman of my status—marry well, raise children, and manage a household. But that never sat right with me. I was fascinated by learning and longed to study law like my brother Thomas. I even secretly read his legal books, dreaming of becoming a lawyer one day. But society at the time didn’t allow women like me to pursue such ambitions. Instead, I poured my energy into education and faith, eventually joining the Quaker community after moving to Philadelphia in 1821. The Quakers' belief in equality for all people resonated deeply with me, and it gave me the courage to speak out against slavery.

My sister Angelina joined me in Philadelphia a few years later, and together, we began a journey that would challenge not only the institution of slavery but also the role of women in society. We became some of the first women to publicly speak out against slavery, writing letters and giving speeches to large audiences across the North. In 1836, Angelina published her famous letter, "An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South," urging women to recognize the moral evil of slavery and to take action against it. Our voices were not always welcomed. Many people, even abolitionists, believed it was improper for women to speak in public. But we refused to stay silent.

In 1838, we both addressed the Massachusetts State Legislature, becoming the first women to speak before a legislative body in the United States. We also broadened our fight to include women's rights, arguing that women deserved the same opportunities as men in education, employment, and politics. Our writings, including my Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Woman, became some of the earliest feminist works in America.

Despite the backlash, Angelina and I never wavered in our commitment to justice. We believed that slavery and the oppression of women were interconnected—both were systems designed to dehumanize and control. To truly create a more just society, both systems had to be dismantled.

Later in life, Angelina and I settled in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, where we continued to write and advocate for change. I tutored children, including the sons of formerly enslaved people, and Angelina raised her own children while continuing her activism. Our legacy is one of perseverance in the face of immense resistance. We fought for a vision of equality that was far ahead of its time, and though we didn’t live to see the abolition of slavery or women’s suffrage, I’m proud to know that our work helped pave the way for those victories.

If I could leave you with one message, it’s this: never underestimate the power of your voice, no matter who you are or where you come from. Change doesn’t happen by staying silent—it happens when people are brave enough to speak out against injustice, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. That’s the lesson my sister and I carried with us throughout our lives, and I hope you carry it with you as well.

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