ANGELINA GRIMKE’S CONCERN

‘Sisters in Christ I feel an interest in you, and often has the secret prayer arisen on your behalf, Lord "open thou their eyes that they may see wondrous things out of thy Law"—It is then, because I do feel and do pray for you, . . .’
She was appealing to the better natures of southern women in the midst of a culture that more or less accepted slavery in her “APPEAL TO THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF THE SOUTH” a personal crusade she was waging in 1836. She joined her voice with her sister Sarah’s in a courageous effort.

http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/abesaegat.html

VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

On this day, 45 years ago, this passed into law. It was the culmination of years of struggle to enact the right to vote, for former slaves, first granted in the 15th Amendment in 1870.
Local and state authorities had used many ways to prevent or delay former slaves from voting. Law suits had not worked to open up the process and encourage voter registration. Following the murders surrounding the Selma to Montgomery March in Alabama, Congress found the will to overcome the opposition and bring this issue to become law. It took 95 years!

Our whole nation is better for having more of us involved in the voting process!

http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro_b.php

“The Meaning of the Fourth of July to the Negro”

FREDERICK DOUGLASS originally gave this speech on this day in 1852. “Fellow-citizens,” he began, “why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?”
Since then there have been many readings of Douglass’s speech on or near this date, including this recent one in Springfield, Massachusetts. Douglass was a steadfast supporter of women’s rights and involved from 1848 until his death.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/springfield_to_celebrate_frede.html
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-2887-the-myth-of-a-post-racial-america.html

The full text of his speech www.masshumanities.org.

ABOLITIONISTS AND WOMEN WORKED TOGETHER

Many of the women and men, who worked for the establishment of women’s rights, were also committed to abolition and the establishment of human rights for slaves. So it is appropriate and poignant that the 14th Amendment advanced the rights of both groups.

http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/suffrage/index.html
http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/suffrage/index.html

CATHERINE BEECHER

By 1837, more and more women were being published, in order to influence public thought. They did not have the freedom to speak in public, so this was their best alternative. Catherine, the older sister of Harriet Beecher Stowe, like her brothers and sister was passionate concerning the abolition of slavery. She wrote... a now famous essay addressed to Angelina Emily Grimke, herself a well-known advocate of abolition, along with her sister Sarah.
http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/abesceba2t.htmlSee More

This is the source for the documents between Beecher and Grimke.

http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/grimkehp.html

PERSIA ABOLISHED SLAVERY IN 539 BC

Thanks to Cyrus the Great, slavery was ended and the captives were sent home to Israel. Cyrus even helped them rebuild their homeland. A replica of the stone cylinder where this edict was written hangs in the UN headquarters, as an example of an ancient act of human rights.
I would hope that modern day Iran and Israel would take note.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_slavery_timeline

DESIRE FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE

Beyond anything else, we all have the basic need for love and acceptance from someone. For some of us, that need is fulfilled by God and the grace that is offered. But we also need recognition from people around us. When our basic human rights are not recognized by others, and more importantly not even by our own country, the heart and soul cries out for justice.
That may help us all understand why women joined the fight against slavery, and abolitionist men and women joined the fight for women’s rights!
It is this basic human need for acceptance that gay and lesbians folks desire from both their country and its citizens today.

http://www.deepspring.org/library_books/library_books_aaron/Aaron_32.html