Complete Poems of Frances E.W. Harper

by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Frances Harper was renowned in her lifetime not only as an activist who rallied on behalf of blacks, women, and the poor, but as a pioneer of the tradition of 'protest' literature, whose immense popularity did much to develop an audience for poetry in America. This collection of her poems is drawn from ten volumes published between 1854 and 1901. Their main issues are oppression, Christianity, and social and moral reform. Consolidating the oral tradition and the ballad form, and merging dramatic details and imagery with a strong political and racial awareness, Harper's poetry represented a distinctly Afro-American discourse that was to inspire generations of black writers.

Genres: Poetry, Grad School

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1854

About the author

Born to free parents in Baltimore, Maryland. After her mother died when she was three years old in 1828, Watkins was orphaned. She was raised by her aunt and uncle. She was educated at the Academy for Negro Youth, a school run by her uncle Rev. William Watkins, who was a civil rights activist. He was a major influence on her life and work. At fourteen, she found work as a seamstress.

Frances Watkins had her first volume of verse, Forest Leaves, published in 1845 (it has been lost). Her second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects, published in 1854, was extremely popular. Over the next few years, it was reprinted in 20 editions. Many African American women's service clubs named themselves in her honor, and across the nation, in cities such as St. Louis, St. Paul, and Pittsburgh, F. E. W. Harper Leagues and Frances E. Harper Women's Christian Temperance Unions thrived well into the twentieth century.

In 1850, Watkins moved to Ohio, where she worked as the first woman teacher at Union Seminary, established by the Ohio Conference of the AME Church. (Union closed in 1863 when the AME Church diverted its funds to purchase Wilberforce University.) The school in Wilberforce was run by the Rev. John Brown (not the same as the abolitionist). In 1853, Watkins joined the American Anti-Slavery Society and became a traveling lecturer for the group. In 1854, Watkins delivered her first anti-slavery speech on “Education and the Elevation of Colored Race”. The success of this speech resulted a two-year lecture tour in Maine for the Anti-Slavery Society. She traveled, lecturing throughout the East and Midwest from 1856 to 1860. In 1859, her story “The Two Offers” was published in the Anglo-African Magazine, a great accomplishment as it became the first short story to ever be published by an African American.

In 1860, she married Fenton Harper, a widower with three children. They had a daughter together in 1862. For a time Frances withdrew from the lecture circuit. However, after her husband Fenton died in 1864, Watkins returned to her travels and lecturing.

Frances Harper was a strong supporter of prohibition and woman's suffrage. She was also active in the Unitarian Church, which supported abolition. She often would read her poetry at the public meetings, including the extremely popular Bury Me in a Free Land. She was connected with national leaders in suffrage, and in 1866 gave a moving speech before the National Women's Rights Convention, demanding equal rights for all, including black women. Watkins was very involved in black organizations. From 1883 to 1890, she helped organize activities for the National Woman’s Christian temperance Union.

She also continued with her writing and continued to publish poetry. In 1892 she published Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted. One of the first novels by an African-American woman, it sold well and was reviewed widely.

Harper continued with her political activism. She helped organize the National Association of Colored Women in 1896, and was later elected vice president in 1897.

Reviews

[Illiterate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Protestant piety and liberal moralism. Christ, temperance, and liberty. Top tip: Double Standard.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major Fields: 9/133

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read these poems in 2020!

I just finished reading through this beautiful collection. Though written many, many years ago, her poetry speaks today. Perfect for the turmoil that America is going through. Highly recommended!

[Courtney Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were separate Goodreads listings for her different poetry collections, but ah well. “Forest Leaves” is just the greatest collection. While many of her most famous works come from her “Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects” collection, it is her first that I feel is the most vulnerable, passionate, and filled with an incredible understanding of Christian texts and the tensions in her own life between her religious ideals and her lived experiences as a woman of color.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to get through.

The themes are generally very religious, with a few on temperance. That could feel preachy, but given her upbringing it is not surprising.

Generally a good sense of rhythm where you can easily pick up the flow, though "Then and Now" feels a little forced as she tried to bring in the names of various people.

I don't know that it stands the test of time, but I don't regret reading it. Her overall achievements are remarkable.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio book.
These are some amazing little poems my favorite was Double standard.
These are some of my favorite poem's.