Poetry

Sarah Louisa Forten Purvis, writing as "Ada" and "Magawisca," was a vital, though often overlooked, voice in the 1830s abolitionist movement. As the daughter of prominent abolitionist James Forten and a co-founder of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, her poems — published in William Lloyd Garrison's *The Liberator* — offered a unique perspective on the intertwined struggles of race and gender. This collection, meticulously curated to correctly attribute her work amidst historical confusion, brings together her powerful appeals to conscience, particularly her moving calls for white women to recognize shared humanity and join the fight against slavery. Forten Purvis's poetry, though scarce, resonates with a profound urgency, offering a rare glimpse into the intellectual and emotional landscape of a free Black woman navigating racial and gendered oppression in antebellum America. Her work is not merely historical artifact; it's a masterclass in rhetorical persuasion, leveraging the perceived moral authority of womanhood to challenge the grotesque injustices of slavery. Reading her today is to witness the nascent stirrings of intersectional thought, a testament to her enduring brilliance and a potent reminder of the long, complex lineage of Black feminist activism.