And the Spirit Moved Them: The Lost Radical History of America's First Feminists

by Helen LaKelly Hunt, Cornel West (Foreword)

The New York Times –bestselling author of Getting the Love You Want sends out a ‘call for renewed feminist action, based on “the spirit and ethic of love’” ( Kirkus Reviews ). A decade before the Seneca Falls Convention, black and white women joined together at the 1837 Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in the first instance of political organizing by American women for American women. Incited by “holy indignation,” these pioneers believed it was their God-given duty to challenge both slavery and patriarchy. Although the convention was largely written out of history for its religious and interracial character, these women created a blueprint for an intersectional feminism that was centuries ahead of its time. Part historical investigation, part personal memoir, Hunt traces how her research into nineteenth-century organizing led her to become one of the most significant philanthropists in modern history. Her journey to confront her position of power meant taking control of an oil fortune that was being deployed on her behalf but without her knowledge, and acknowledging the feminist faith animating her life’s work.

Genres: History, Feminism, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Politics, American History, Womens

248 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2017

Reviews

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book documenting some of the women behind what was the first large scale gathering of women that took place in New York in 1837. Ostensibly it was an abolitionist convention, however many of the women who took part also sought to further the rights and independence of women of all colors.
What led up to the convention as well as what followed is chronicled here in a well researched and engaging manner. From the factions between the women at the convention who wanted to focus only on abolitionism and the women who sought higher and broader goals, to the men who found the very idea of a women's convention to be outrageous. That these men often resorted to threats and actually violence as well as savaging women in the press is shocking to read even today. By the time I reached the end of this book I had a deep admiration for the vision and courage of these women who were well ahead of their time and unwilling to let anyone tell them to go slowly or stay in their place.
My only criticism of this book would be extended passages at the beginning and end from the author about her own life experiences as the daughter of the oilman H.L. Hunt and growing up in a very patriarchal family. While I applaud her passion in researching and writing this excellent book, I'm not particularly interested in the hardships of a privileged person, male or female, identifying with oppressed groups, particularly minority groups.
It's a small quibble though. Overall this book shines an important light on some forgotten but highly influential women who were critical in advancing equality for women.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shares the remarkable history of the pre-Seneca Falls interracial abolitionist and feminist movements in America. It also clearly communicates the complicity and hypocrisy of American churches in sanctioning abhorrent practices such as slavery and second class citizenship of women. The early leaders of these initiatives were extremely religion and felt their faith communities often led not by scripture but by politics. Written after the 2016 election, this history is as pertinent today as ever before.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at some early abolitionists.

[Sparkie Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read but repetitive.

[Kimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book read a bit too much to me in praise of white women who did something good (the Grimkés),while glossing over the black women like Sarah Douglass and Clarissa Lawrence who had much more at stake. I'd heard the Grimkés and Lucretia Mott's names before, but had not heard Douglass'. From reading the description of this book, I expected to learn more stories like Douglass'.

Hunt talks about how because of the way history has been told, women's rights and abolitionist movements were often forced against each other. In who and what she decided to focus on, however, Hunt's book fails to break that pattern. That could be because of a lack of historical record. I'm not sure.

I also think this was too ambitious of a project. I would've read a book just about how faith influenced early feminist abolitionist activism, and how that tied to Hunt's personal journey to reconcile her own faith and feminism. I got the sense this is the book Hunt actually wanted to write.

At the end of the book, Hunt talks about tools for healing personal relationships that can be applied to heal systemic problems. It almost reads as an advertisement for her relationship therapy practice. While I don't know much about those methods, I imagine addressing and acknowledging the pain white women have and continue to cause to be more effective in healing historical trauma than praising a few "saviors."

[Karen P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with a small group of women over the past year, so our conversations were on Zoom. I had heard about and read about Seneca Falls and the beginnings of the women’s rights movement. This book takes the history even further back when women gathered and protested against slavery, with their faith as a major force in the movement. The beginnings were interracial, which was not the case later in time. It pains me to learn that many of the same things these women were pushing for are still things we as a nation have yet to figure out- childcare, prison reform, t abolishing the death penalty, equal rights for all people.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don’t know who this book is directed at. But I wish it had focused more on telling the historical story. The use of red ink on some of the words was interesting (like versions of the Bible that print Jesus’s quotes in red)—then the author used it on her own words in the last chapter, which felt a little strange.

[Anne Bennington-Schrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is the type of book your read if you're new to the history of the feminist movement (possibly even some of the abolition movement). It's great to get introduced to names, important places and dates. It may be a slow read for those who already have a lot of knowledge about this women.

[kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭑ ⭑ ⭑ 1/2

an educative history of women’s role in early abolition, the abolitionist roots of early american suffrage and the role of religion in their activism but the author’s personal asides often did the book’s message a disservice by framing the audience as christian by default