Dolly Madison

Dolly Madison was the wife of President James Madison. She was born in Guilford County NC. Her maiden name was Dorothea Payne. Dolly Madison is remembered not only for being the first lady, but for saving the portrait of George Washington from being destroyed. When in 1814, the British attacked Washington DC the White House was set afire. Dolly removed the canvas painting from its framed and fled the capital with it. Dolly Madison is also noted as reminding her husband, James Madison (4th President), Not to forget the ladies when the constitution was being written and signed.

Elizabeth Stanton & Lucretia Mott

Elizabeth Stanton together with Lucretia Mott held the first women"s convention at Seneca Falls where Stanton read the declaration of sentiments. This document was similar to the declaration of independence. It named the injustices done to women and offered resolutions. Women were treated as slaves instead of a partner. Women were not even allowed to sign their own wills. Frederick Douglas was the only male at the Seneca Falls convention to second the motion.

Angelina Grimke was a daughter of a Southern planter. Along with her sister, she went north and joined the abolitionist movement Angelina wrote a letter to southern women pleading with them to help end slavery. She countered most justifications used for slavery. Angelina pointed out that if slavery was good then why not put your own children in slavery and that Jesus did not own slaves. She also told Southern Women that if slavery did not end of their own choice then war was inevitable. These letters, Angelina wrote, never reached their intended. The postmaster burned the letters. Angelina Grimke and her sister brought the plight of the slave (particularly women slaves) to the attention of the public. The womens movement developed out of the abolitionist movement. Women were made to sit behind a curtain and were not allowed to speak at abolitionist meetings. So they formed the women"s rights movement. Abolitionists used the plight of the female slave who was repeatedly raped by her master to enrage the audiences into action. Abolitionists advocated ending slavery because slavery was morally indecent. Black women were denied their children as well as their domestic sphere. Women being the moral keepers of society would sympathized with the Black women slaves and even relate marriage to slavery. The idea of the abolitionist was to end slavery by any means necessary. Enraging their audiences into mobilization. 

Connie Curry

Connie Curry was influenced much from her Irish ancestry. The Irish have had a long struggle for independence that is still going on today. Connie"s interest in her ancestor"s plight had an impact on developing her own consciousness. In addition, the Irish, particularly immigrants, were often "picked on" by the mainstream of society. This gave Connie a sense of connection with the freedom movement. Typically, people think of the Irish as being fighters and having a temper. As with most of these women who were apart of the freedom movement, Connie had a strong mother figure in her life. Her mother"s refusal to conform to the norm was an act of rebellion in those times. This had to have some impact on Connie"s beliefs. In the chapter, "They sent in this White Girl", Elaine Baker tells of her Grandfather who had lived in the South. Her Grandfather told tales of cheating Blacks. This seemed strange because the Bakers were Jewish. Historically, Jews have taken more abuse than any other group of people. One would think that Grandfather Baker would be more sympathetic. However, he was probably trying to fit into society. Elaine"s Jewish connection allowed her to relate to the cause. Perhaps by fighting black oppression she was also fighting for her own people"s oppression.

Casey Hayden

In Fields of Blue, Casey Hayden identified with the movement because her mother was the only divorcee in the town she grew up in. Her mother"s simple human decency and love inspired Casey to do what she thought was right.  Religion inspired all three of the women activists. The Jewish experience inspired Elaine Baker. Jews have been discriminated against since antiquity. Her Irish Protestant background inspired Connie Curry, the Irish Protestants and Catholics have been fighting it out for years. . Casey Hayden found a cross between Zen Buddhism and Hindu. The Hindu teach to respect the Dharma or the spirit within. If one takes their religion seriously, they will learn to treat each other, as they would like to be treated. Religion is twisted to fit anyone beliefs. The beloved community to these activists was one of unity, " The unity we achieved transcends any political differences," Casey Hayden. "How I feel when I return to the town where I was born," Elaine Baker. "There is an intimacy born of shared struggle, dedication, excitement, compassion, sorrow and danger that is matched by no other," Connie Curry. Quakers helped many of the slaves escape North before the civil war. Some illegally taught slaves to read and write. They have always been involved in human rights issues. "The AFSC, a Quaker service organization headquartered in Philadelphia, already had a long history of race-relations work in the South in fair housing, employment, and school desegregation." Many of the anti racist culture were Quakers. These people risked their lives, and well-being by speaking out against the racism. They were harassed and intimidated by racists. If they rented a place to stay, they risked being thrown out at a moments notice. They risked being thrown in jail for some made up offence. "The Perry policeman said we had gone through a stop sign and we would have to come to the station.