This talk will focus on three women–Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Fannie Barrier Williams, and Maria Baldwin. These three women were among the most prominent intellectuals and activists of their time and their work had enduring influence throughout the 20th century and, in the case of Harper, even to this day. While their leadership and efforts were recognized during their time and since then by scholars, too little attention has been paid to the influence of their faith on their activism and ideas. This talk will explore how and why they came to Unitarianism and how liberal religion informed their worldview and lives of activism and service.

Topics: Black History, UU-ism