In a society that welcomed speakers neither from the African American race nor the female sex, Maria W. Stewart, an African American woman, was able to become a prominent speaker on matters of religion, abolition and feminism. She argued for the abolishment of the institution of slavery and the empowerment of African Americans as a race. In 1831, Stewart brought her writing to the prominent white abloitionist, William Lloyd Garrison with the intension of submitting her work for his abolitionist newspaper the Liberator. Her militant activism and clear aim at black audiences was reminiscent of the recently deceased abolitionist David Walker. Like Walker, Stewart refused to limit her writings to prevent controversy and conflict. Garrison saw flare in the young woman's writing and published her essay in a section of the Liberator entitled "Ladies Department." Stewart found her power not only in the written word, but also in the spoken. She dominated the rhetorical arena, implementing the call and response method, involving her audience. In addition to calling upon the audience before her, Stewart urged women, both black and white to use their influence in the home as a method of moving the abolitionist movement forward. Stewart recognized the power held within women's domesticity over both their children and their husbands. Her career as a public abolitionist figure was, however short-lived, at only three years or so, due to the constant conflict she found as a result of both her race and sex.
Examples of Maria W. Stewart's writings:
Read the "Questions for Thought" page after reading each of these documents.
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