Women Rights Essay

a hindrance to the development of women right's movement.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were the first abolitionists. Grimke argued that men and women are all equal and are entitled to the same human rights. These two men argued that women had the right to vie for political position as they are also individuals (Newman 160). They encouraged other women to begin speaking about their responsibilities and rights. The male’s abolitionist felt uncomfortable about the equality as they felt that women’s rights would diffuse moral outrage over slavery. Different women worked with Sarah and Angelina to advance female and black American cause (Newman 160). After meeting William Lloyd, Sarah and Angelina sought to unite feminism and abolitionism. They wanted the black women to be more involved in the human rights and abolition groups. These sisters did not want their people to be persecuted or enslaved. Despite the efforts taken by the three sisters, many white female activists were still racist, and they did not address black female exclusion in their organizations. There was an overall inequality between the black people and the white. These sisters acknowledged that for abolitionism and feminism to become active, women of all races were to band together with men of color. They advocated for the full understanding of the link between the black civil rights and feminism to avoid exclusion of women of color (Carpenter 486). For example, Sarah Douglass who was a feminist and was in the abolition movement hardly discussed of her race. She emphasized on the disbanding of northern racism and reminded the white people that their agenda should include the liberation of the black people and the slaves.

In

the 1830s and 40s documents which focused on New England which helped explain the emergence of the women rights and abolitionism campaigns and how they influenced each other. The report describes how the Americans continue to discuss the struggle for ethnic justice and equality between both genders. The majority of women who united the antislavery and women rights causes came from the countryside and towns from the North which was reform-oriented families and was deep in religion (Newman 164). In 1838, the Anti- Slavery movement in America was formed to bring together the abolitionists from the West, and New England. Many people from the North and South believed that the return of free slaves to their homeland land of Africa would be the answer to the persistent problem American slavery. Many opponents of abolitionist rejected colonization and argued that it was unjust, impractical and racist since they found it tough to relocate two million slaves in the slavery zones with the resources that were available. Pressure from the people from the North and South for immediate liberation, and to end racial prejudice, made the abolitionist become the object of criticism, violence, and even ridicule (Newman 162). The anti- abolitionist and the anti- black demonstrations were involved in the fight which resulted in disorder in American cities. Anti- abolitionist multitudes consisted of common citizens who were said to be well organized and respectable. They held that abolitionism would threaten their businesses and communities.

It required a lot of courage to become a dynamic abolitionist. Many of them faced physical danger in the hands of the mob and furthermore endured disapproval by their families and friends. The abolitionist

was motivated by believing that slavery was a good evil and could not be acceptable (WINSLOW 176). The abolitionist was not able to completely free themselves from the racial bias that existed in the America, and it helps the blacks equally socially. In the mid-nineteenth century, anti- slavery grew as it was associated with other movements. As the public opinions became less in the North and its South in its defense, the violence decreased. During this period, the abolitionism gained more support from the people. The unity in abolition did not last long, as people started disagreeing with the policy and values (Carpenter 483). The disagreement resulted in the division into two groups, radical abolitionist, and the moderate political abolitionists. Radical abolitionist insisted that the anti-slavery movement was a strict and religious organizations which were aimed at the development of the state. They argued that women should be significantly involved in the antislavery work. Moderate political abolitionist sought for immediate liberation by using the political systems, and election of anti-slavery was the best way to go about. They held to the traditional beliefs that women did not have a say and that their involvement would frighten away many people who would like to support anti- slavery.

A convention was held in 1840, with no inclusion of black women as delegates. Few black male abolitionists were appointed as delegates from Britain’s Caribbean and United States colonies. Women who were enslaved were bound up with the history of the Atlantic world and transatlantic slave trade that linked America, Africa, and Caribbean Islands. As the movement continued growing, questions about the role of the women and color emerged. The

role of black women in the movement was also put under consideration (WINSLOW 176). For example, the women who had been liberated from slavery and free women of color became active in the abolitionist movement. There was resistance that started emerging from the middle class and the educated over the inclusion of black women. For instance, when Sojourner Truth addressed the Women’s Convention in Akron in 1851, people had different opinions on how they received the speech. Some people welcomed both the message and the speaker while others were hostile because of having a black speaker addressing them.

Women rights activists developed a critique of the position of women in the society. Supporters of women rights movement held campaigns protesting the black codes, capital punishment, and fugitive slave laws. In 1869, the women rights movement split into two sections: National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) (Carpenter 480). The division resulted from Republican Party's means of allowing equal protection and suffrage to African- American men while excluding the black women from the same rights. NWSA argued that the white women were superior to the black people when it came to voting. The hopes that the female abolitionist had for voting were shattered.

Conclusion

It’s evident that that race prevented the emergence of women’s rights movement. Black women were seen as inferior and could not contribute anything to the movement. These black women were not given a chance to get involved in politics. The middle-class people argued that inclusion of the black women in the abolition movement would have negative impacts on their businesses and communities. The fact that one was a black woman,

they were disregarded. For instance, when Sojourner Truth addressed people many people conflicted on the speech, some claimed that it was irrelevant having a black speaker addressing them. The black women struggled to get freedom and abolish slavery. Black women felt very disappointed became they found their roles in the movement very restricted and could only be involved in behind-the-scenes activities. Black women would even try volunteering activities to get the attention of the political leaders but all in vain. Development of this movement was hindered by the division of how different people viewed and acknowledged the black women. The movement which was originally compact start began having various groups who had different suggestions about how the campaign would be led. Though, laws were changed Americans still struggle with the means of justice and equality in the society. It’s thus necessary to understand feminism and have courage when addressing racism for the effective abolishment of slavery.

References

1. Carpenter, Daniel, and Colin D. Moore. "When Canvassers Became Activists: Antislavery Petitioning and the Political Mobilization of American Women." American Political Science Review 108.03 (2014): 479-498.
2. Newman, Louise. "New Perspectives on Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott: A Review of Recent Work on the History of Nineteenth-Century Women's Rights." Journal of Women's History 27.2 (2015): 159-168.
3. WINSLOW, DIANNA. "CHAPTER NINE CONFRONTING THE PAST: FEMINIST CULTURAL COUNTER-MEMORY AND ANTI-HEGEMONIC MEMORIALIZING AT THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS NATIONAL." We Are What We Remember: The American Past Through Commemoration (2013): 176.