The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family

Greenidge (history, Tufts Univ.; Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter) delivers a provocative account of the storied Grimke family, who maintained a conflicted relationship with racial equality. Greenidge’s study encompasses the two branches of the Grimke family: sisters Sarah and Angelina, well-known for their outspoken views on women’s rights and the “peculiar institution” of slavery, and descendants of their brother Henry, who followed in the footsteps of their brutal parents. Henry fathered three sons—Archie, Frank, and John—through Nancy, an enslaved woman. Although Sarah and Angelina were celebrated abolitionists and suffragists, Greenidge argues that their views were motivated by guilt rather than compassion for enslaved people. Indeed, while they helped with Archie’s and Frank’s schooling, they also expected them to remove themselves from the rest of Black society. Greenidge notes that these beliefs weren’t limited to the white branch of the family, as even Black Grimke descendants distanced themselves from those who weren’t part of the “colored elite.” Narrator Karen Chilton provides a perfectly paced, engaging presentation, relaying facts and historical detail with a measured tone. Listeners should be prepared for racial slurs and graphic content.