Maria W. Stewart, a former indentured servant, made history in 1831 by becoming one of the first Black women to publicly advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. Her political manifesto, published by white abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison in The Liberator, detailed her challenging upbringing and harsh realities faced by Black women in America. She called for education, empowerment, and legal action among her peers, carving a path for feminism and Black political thought in a time of oppression.
Stewart urged Black women to educate themselves and promote each other, becoming a pioneering voice in feminism by advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
In her manifesto, Stewart described her upbringing and the oppressive conditions for Black women in America, emphasizing the need for empowerment and self-advocacy.
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