Lydia Maria Child
Lydia Maria Child
Lydia Maria Child was an American abolitionist, feminist, Native American rights activist, novelist, journalist, and opponent of American expansionism. Her journals, both fiction and domestic manuals, reached wide audiences from the 1820s through the 1850s. At times she shocked her audience as she tried to take on issues of both male dominance and white supremacy in some of her stories.
"England may as well dam up the waters of the Nile with bulrushes as to fetter the step of Freedom, more proud and firm in this youthful land than where she treads the sequestered glens of Scotland, or couches herself among the magnificent mountains of Switzerland."
Lydia Maria Child"Neither the planters nor the Colonization Society, seem to ask what right we have to remove people from the places where they have been born and brought up, —where they have a home, which, however miserable, is still their home, —and where their relatives and acquaintances all reside. Africa is no more their native country than England is ours, —nay, it is less so, because there is no community of language or habits; —besides, we cannot say to them, as Gilpin said to his horse, "Twas for your pleasure you came here, you shall go back for mine."
Lydia Maria Child"I will work in my own way, according to the light that is in me."
Lydia Maria Child"They [the slaves] have stabbed themselves for freedom—jumped into the waves for freedom—starved for freedom—fought like very tigers for freedom! But they have been hung, and burned, and shot—and their tyrants have been their historians!"
Lydia Maria Child"Over the river, and through the wood, To grandfathers house we go; The horse knows the way, To carry the sleigh, Through the white and drifted snow."
Lydia Maria Child"We first crush people to the earth, and then claim the right of trampling on them forever, because they are prostrate."
Lydia Maria Child"Woman stock is rising in the market. I shall not live to see women vote, but Ill come and rap on the ballot box."
Lydia Maria Child"It is impossible to exaggerate the evil work theology has done in the world."
Lydia Maria Child"Yours for the unshackled exercise of every faculty by every human being."
Lydia Maria Child"The United States is...a warning rather than an example to the world."
Lydia Maria Child"I think we have reason to thank God for Abraham Lincoln. With all his deficiencies, it must be admitted that he has grown continually."
Lydia Maria Child
