No. 53: Frances Harper
Episode Transcript
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Imagine living in a world where your words could set minds on fire and challenge the very fabric of society—but you don’t have the right to vote or even sit at the same table as the men you’re inspiring. Frances Harper was a literary trailblazer whose pen became her weapon against slavery and injustice, long before most women even had a voice in public life. She didn’t just write stories; she rewrote the rules.
Hey everyone, I’m Shae, a PhD candidate at Harvard, and today we’re diving into the extraordinary life of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a woman whose penmanship and activism shattered expectations and changed history.
Born free in Baltimore in 1825, Frances Harper lost both of her parents by the age of three and was raised by her aunt and uncle. Her uncle, William Watkins, was a respected minister and abolitionist who ran a school for Black children. It was here that Frances received an exceptional education, which was rare for a Black girl at that time. Her intellectual upbringing would shape her into one of the most influential writers and orators of the 19th century.
As a young woman, Harper became involved in the abolitionist movement. Her first collection of poetry, Forest Leaves, was published in 1845 when she was just 20 years old, and from there, her literary career soared. But it wasn’t just her poetry that made waves—Harper was a formidable public speaker and a leading voice in the abolition movement. She traveled the country giving lectures on the evils of slavery, and her words carried the weight of both moral conviction and emotional depth.
In addition to her abolition work, Frances Harper was a staunch supporter of women’s rights, especially for Black women who were often marginalized even within the women’s suffrage movement. One of her most powerful speeches, “We Are All Bound Up Together,” was delivered at the National Women’s Rights Convention in 1866, where she made an impassioned plea for universal equality. The Convention members could not come to an agreement on supporting the 15th Amendment which would grant Black men the right to vote. Nonetheless, she went on to co-found the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.
But let’s talk about Harper’s literary genius. Her poetry was poignant and stirring, but her short stories and novels were equally groundbreaking. In 1859, she became the first Black woman in the U.S. to publish a short story with The Two Offers, a commentary on gender roles, race, and the moral challenges women faced.
Harper’s literary accomplishments were matched only by her passion for justice. Whether through her poetry, short stories, or activism, she used every tool at her disposal to challenge the moral conscience of America.
Frances Harper’s legacy is a testament to the power of words and the courage to use them. If her story moved you, make sure to follow and rate this podcast 5 stars so more people can hear these powerful histories. And don’t forget to follow me on social media and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content about incredible women like Frances Harper. Let’s keep her story—and so many others—alive!
