Maria Stewart seems out of her time.  She is strong and vigile with her words.  She recognizes her part in the constitution by saying that all men are free and equal.  I think she makes a loud and vigilant statement when she says principles makes the man not the color of the skin.  I thought it was interesting also when she wrote that even though many think blacks are an inferior race that God does not look at them  that way.  Maria Stewart had professed her faith to God.  I think she was expressing that blacks allegiance was to their country and faith to God -not their masters. -Marsha Himes

Maria Stewart seems out of her time.  She is strong and vigile with her words.  She recognizes her part in the constitution by saying that all men are free and equal.  I think she makes a loud and vigilant statement when she says principles makes the man not the color of the skin.  I thought it was interesting also when she wrote that even though many think blacks are an inferior race that God does not look at them  that way.  Maria Stewart had professed her faith to God.  I think she was expressing that blacks allegiance was to their country and faith to God -not their masters. -Marsha Himes

The writing of Maria W. Stewart reminded me of Martin Luther King Jr. She wrote: “Far be it from me to recommend to you either to kill, burn, or destroy. But I would strongly recommend to you to improve your talents; let not one lie buried in the earth. Show forth your powers of the mind...” Stewart and King both promoted non-violent protest and spoke of equality in religious terms.  -Allison Luthern

The writing of Maria W. Stewart reminded me of Martin Luther King Jr. She wrote: “Far be it from me to recommend to you either to kill, burn, or destroy. But I would strongly recommend to you to improve your talents; let not one lie buried in the earth. Show forth your powers of the mind...” '''Stewart and King both promoted non-violent protest and spoke of equality in religious terms.'''   -Allison Luthern

As I read this passage, Maria Stewart said many things that stood out to me as brave, but also showed her dedication to the cause. She reaches out to people with the intent to empower them. She says, "Many think, because your skins are tinged with a sable hue, that you are an inferior race of beings." (P. 236) To the people she specifically talks to, she gives them little chance for excuses as to why they do not stand up and support reform and stand up for their rights. It was interesting how Maria Stewart referred to God in everything she said. She believed her work was for God and believed, with that idea, that she (and other AFrican Americans) could achieve anything. --- Alex Mankarios

As I read this passage, Maria Stewart said many things that stood out to me as brave, but also showed her dedication to the cause. She reaches out to people with the intent to empower them. She says, "Many think, because your skins are tinged with a sable hue, that you are an inferior race of beings." (P. 236) '''To the people she specifically talks to, she gives them little chance for excuses as to why they do not stand up and support reform and stand up for their rights.''' It was interesting how Maria Stewart referred to God in everything she said. She believed her work was for God and believed, with that idea, that she (and other AFrican Americans) could achieve anything. --- Alex Mankarios

I really enjoyed this passage. I thought that she was very intelligent, brave, and most of all--she was articulate. I thought it was very clever to bring up the fact that the blood and tears of the African Americans had really more so than even the Europeans, settled America and made it was it was. I also like how she mentioned that while African Americans were busy doing all the physical labor required to build up a nation, their masters had been busy with "head-work." It was an interesting way to describe that fact that some parts of society had had a 200 year head start on education, while others yearned just to learn how to read. -Mary Turner

I really enjoyed this passage. I thought that she was very intelligent, brave, and most of all--she was articulate. I thought it was '''very clever to bring up the fact that the blood and tears of the African Americans had really more so than even the Europeans, settled America and made it was it was.''' I also like how she mentioned that while African Americans were busy doing all the physical labor required to build up a nation, their masters had been busy with "head-work." It was an interesting way to describe that fact that some parts of society had had a 200 year head start on education, while others yearned just to learn how to read. -Mary Turner

== Letter to Liberator from Andover Female Antislavery Society, 1836 ==

== Letter to Liberator from Andover Female Antislavery Society, 1836 ==

Referring to the meetings of the Female Antislavery Society, this woman was stressing the importance of a woman's role in reform.  It was women's Godly duty to reform those in the south, who believed in slavery.  Using such words as "scourged sisters" at the South, meaning black women are our sisters and are being tortured by the south.  The south must be corrected for their wrong doings.  Black women are being opressed and we must reform the south to stop the oppression.  She saw it as a degradation of women or what she called "darkness."  -Marsha Himes

Referring to the meetings of the Female Antislavery Society, this woman was stressing the importance of a woman's role in reform.  It was women's Godly duty to reform those in the south, who believed in slavery.  Using such words as "scourged sisters" at the South, meaning black women are our sisters and are being tortured by the south.  The south must be corrected for their wrong doings.  Black women are being opressed and we must reform the south to stop the oppression.  She saw it as a degradation of women or what she called "darkness."  -Marsha Himes

I agree with Marsha in that women stressed their importance in reform. They saw it as their "Christian duty" to help their enslaved sisters. According to these antislavery women, they were justified in condemning slavery because it "robbed women in slavery of virtue". It is interesting that these antislavery women who had their ideals of what it meant to be women believed that slave women had those same ideals. I wonder how southern white women felt about this. --Erin Sanderson

I agree with Marsha in that women stressed their importance in reform. They saw it as their "Christian duty" to help their enslaved sisters. According to these antislavery women, they were justified in condemning slavery because it "robbed women in slavery of virtue". '''It is interesting that these antislavery women who had their ideals of what it meant to be women believed that slave women had those same ideals. I wonder how southern white women felt about this.''' --Erin Sanderson

I think it is always so interesting when people interpret the bible and use it for whatever point they was to make or argue. In this case with the letter, I liked the way the lady wanted to explain how God viewed women-that they had a duty but also that they should not be slaves. I also liked the statement that said it "disregards the relation of husband and wife, brother and sister, parent and child-shuts out the intellect the light of knowledge-whelms hope in despair and ruins the soul." The letter had a lot of good points to make.  -Amy Van Ness

I think it is always so interesting when people interpret the bible and use it for whatever point they was to make or argue. In this case with the letter, I liked the way the lady wanted to explain how God viewed women-that they had a duty but also that they should not be slaves. I also '''liked the statement that said it "disregards the relation of husband and wife, brother and sister, parent and child-shuts out the intellect the light of knowledge-whelms hope in despair and ruins the soul." The letter had a lot of good points to make.''' -Amy Van Ness

When I read this piece, I was really impressed by the ammount of imagery used. It was very well written, and made to grab the readers attention and convince them that slavery is indeed, a very vile practice. This is definately propaganda, catering to the northern white middle class women. It was made to be really moving and convincing, to draw more women into the cause of anti-slavery, and it seems like a good enough piece of work to have been able to do the job. Kristina.S.

When I read this piece, I was really impressed by the ammount of imagery used. It was very well written, and made to grab the readers attention and convince them that slavery is indeed, a very vile practice. '''This is definately propaganda, catering to the northern white middle class women. It was made to be really moving and convincing, to draw more women into the cause of anti-slavery, and it seems like a good enough piece of work to have been able to do the job.''' Kristina.S.

== Sarah Grimke’s response to the Mass Clergy, 1837 ==

== Sarah Grimke’s response to the Mass Clergy, 1837 ==

I was really impressed by the choice of words and imagery Grimke uses in her response to the Mass Clergy. Just to imagine how learned and politically savvy this woman must have been is not much of a feat. I can see this woman being someone who could run verbal circles around almost anyone. And, it is also interssting that she intreperts the bible as saying that men and women were created equal. I am curious to know if saying that men and women were created equal under god was a very different thing, or if that was a rather normal statement to make at the time? Kristina.S.

I was really impressed by the choice of words and imagery Grimke uses in her response to the Mass Clergy. Just to imagine how learned and politically savvy this woman must have been is not much of a feat. '''I can see this woman being someone who could run verbal circles around almost anyone. And, it is also interssting that she intreperts the bible as saying that men and women were created equal. I am curious to know if saying that men and women were created equal under god was a very different thing, or if that was a rather normal statement to make at the time?''' Kristina.S.

I agree with Kristina about the way Sarah Grimke spoke to the clergy. She was not afraid to ask the hard questions, the ones she knew she was justified in asking, such s "how monstrous is the doctrine that woman is to be dependent on man? Where in all the sacred scriptures is this taught?" Grimke speaks out on eveyrthing she finds wrong with the clergy in relation to women's rights. I think I mostly enjoyed her last sentence, "But no where does Godsay that he made any disntinction between us as moral and intelligent beings." I feel like that was almost a slap in the face to the clergy, because in one sentence, she was able to assert female intelligence over that of men, and it came across as an insult. I was glad to see someone could be courageous and speak up, without being afraid. Grimke did her research, and had evidence to back up what she was arguing. ---- Alex Mankarios

I agree with Kristina about the way Sarah Grimke spoke to the clergy. She was not afraid to ask the hard questions, the ones she knew she was justified in asking, such s "how monstrous is the doctrine that woman is to be dependent on man? Where in all the sacred scriptures is this taught?" Grimke speaks out on eveyrthing she finds wrong with the clergy in relation to women's rights. I think I mostly enjoyed her last sentence, "But no where does Godsay that he made any disntinction between us as moral and intelligent beings." '''I feel like that was almost a slap in the face to the clergy, because in one sentence, she was able to assert female intelligence over that of men, and it came across as an insult.''' I was glad to see someone could be courageous and speak up, without being afraid. Grimke did her research, and had evidence to back up what she was arguing. ---- Alex Mankarios

== Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls, 1848 (written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton) ==

== Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls, 1848 (written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton) ==

I don’t really understand why women would be willing to put forth their rights and equality unanimously except for voting rights. If women were kept out of political life because they were considered unsuited for it intellectually and emotionally, but the women and men at Seneca Falls were arguing the opposite, why not just go for the gold? The Declaration of Sentiments is threatening already, what difference would one more assertion make. -- Taylor Brann

'''I don’t really understand why women would be willing to put forth their rights and equality unanimously except for voting rights.''' If women were kept out of political life because they were considered unsuited for it intellectually and emotionally, but the women and men at Seneca Falls were arguing the opposite, why not just go for the gold? The Declaration of Sentiments is threatening already, what difference would one more assertion make. -- Taylor Brann