Grace Douglass facts for kids

Grace Bustill Douglass (1782 – March 9, 1842) was an amazing African-American woman. She fought hard to end slavery and for women's rights. Her family was one of the first well-known free black families in the United States. Their family story is very well recorded, from 1732 all the way to 1925.

Grace's Early Life and Family

Grace Bustill Douglass was born in Burlington, New Jersey. She came from the Bustill family, who were famous for wanting to end slavery. Her father, Cyrus Bustill, was a strong community leader. He worked hard to stop slavery. Her mother, Elizabeth Morey, was part Delaware Indian and part English. Grace was one of eight children.

Cyrus Bustill was freed from slavery in 1769 by his Quaker owner, Thomas Prior. Quakers are a religious group. From Prior, Cyrus learned how to bake bread. He later opened his own successful bakery in New Jersey. This allowed him to take good care of his family.

Later, her family moved to Philadelphia. There, Cyrus opened another bakery. He also helped start the Free African Society in Philadelphia. In 1797, he opened a school for African-American children. Growing up in Philadelphia meant Grace and her siblings could attend one of the few schools for black children at that time. Grace also learned a skill called millinery, which is making hats. She then opened her own hat shop next to her father's bakery.

Marriage and Children

In 1803, when Grace was 21, she married Robert Douglass. He was a wealthy barber from St Kitts in the West Indies. They had six children together. We know a lot about two of their children: Sarah and Robert Jr..

Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, died young. She had to leave a private school because white students' parents complained. This made Grace and a family friend, James Forten, decide to open their own school. Sarah, Robert, and their other siblings got their great education there and from private teachers. Sarah grew up to be a famous abolitionist and teacher, just like her mother. Robert became a well-known portrait painter.

Grace's Quaker Faith

Grace followed her family's path and became a very religious Quaker. She went to meetings at a mostly white meeting house on Arch Street. Even though she was a devoted Quaker, she was never allowed to become a full member of the Society of Friends because she was black.

During this time, most Quakers strongly opposed slavery. However, many still separated white and black people. Her meeting house followed these rules, making white and black people sit in different sections. Because of this, all of Grace's children, except Sarah, left the Quakers. They joined their father at the First African Presbyterian Church.

Fighting Against Slavery and for Rights

Grace came from a family that had many advantages. She decided to use her life to help people who were less fortunate. Grace and her daughter Sarah became close friends with Lucretia Mott and the Grimké sisters, Angelina and Sarah.

This friendship led them to create the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. They formed this group because they were not allowed to join the main Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia. This was because they were women. The society worked on different social issues and the movement to end slavery. They fought against slavery and against unfair treatment based on race and gender.

Eighteen women, including Grace, signed the society's rules in December 1833. The group raised money, shared writings against slavery, and started petitions to end slavery in Washington D.C. The society also supported new ideas for the time, like women being able to vote, speak in public, and become leaders.

Another important cause for the society was education. Grace and Sarah Douglass were very dedicated to educating African-American children. Because of their efforts, the society created an education committee. This committee looked after schools for black children around Philadelphia. The society stopped working after the Thirteenth (1865) and Fifteenth Amendments (1870) were passed. These amendments ended slavery and gave black men the right to vote. The members felt their main goal of ending slavery had been achieved.

Grace was also involved in other anti-slavery work. She was a member of the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women. This was a yearly meeting of anti-slavery groups in states where slavery was not allowed. In 1837 and 1839, Grace was chosen as vice president for these meetings in New York.

Even though Grace was a Quaker, she was also a delegate at the yearly meeting in Philadelphia for the Second African Presbyterian Church. She went with her husband and her sister, Mary Bustill. The people in this church believed that men and women should be treated equally. They welcomed women into their organization.

Notable Relatives

• Grace Bustill Douglass is the great grandaunt of the famous actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson.

See also

• Bustill family