Arm in Arm: The Grimké Sisters’ Fight for Abolition and ­Women’s Rights

Gr 9 Up–Sarah (1792–1873) and Angelina (1805–1879) were two of over a dozen children born to the Grimkés, a wealthy and influential South Carolina family that enslaved hundreds of people. These daughters grew to be radical dissidents who rejected their family’s and society’s expectations for young women at the time. Although raised in the Presbyterian faith, early in their lives they converted to Quakerism, adopting their values of abolitionism and equal rights for women. At first, the sisters advocated locally but soon moved to Philadelphia and then the national stage. They initially spoke only to women’s groups, but their audience grew to include a mix of genders, unheard of at the time. The pair were the first women to speak at this level for abolition and the first to tie women’s rights to the movement. They drew frequent criticism for their controversial actions, writings, and speeches, but this only fueled their determination to work for the rights of the enslaved and women, making them all the more famous and in demand. They, along with Angelina’s husband Theodore Weld, opened a school and communal living farm, but ultimately their legacy lies with the fight for abolition and women’s rights, having great influence in both movements. Peppered with black and white images, Carpenter’s understated, straightforward writing is informative and engaging and keeps the pages turning. Her detailed research is documented with extensive source notes. A family tree, glossary, bibliography, and index are included.