author
Francis J. (Francis James) Grimké
1850–1937
Born in Charleston to an enslaved mother and a white father, he rose to become one of the most respected Black Presbyterian ministers of his time. His life joined faith, public leadership, and a steady fight for equal rights in Washington, D.C.
3 Audiobooks
Fifty Years of Freedom with matters of vital importance to both the white and colored people of the United States
by Francis J. (Francis James) Grimké
The Negro and the elective franchise. A series of papers and a sermon
by Archibald Henry Grimké, Charles C. (Charles Chauveau) Cook, Francis J. (Francis James) Grimké, John Hope, John L. Love, Kelly Miller
Gideon Bands for work within the race and for work without the race a message to the colored people of the United States
by Francis J. (Francis James) Grimké
About the author
After the Civil War, Francis J. Grimké and his brother Archibald were identified by their abolitionist aunts Sarah and Angelina Grimké, who helped support their education. He studied at Lincoln University and later at Princeton Theological Seminary, preparing for a ministry that would make him a widely heard religious voice.
Grimké spent most of his career at Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., where he served for decades and became known for clear preaching, moral seriousness, and civic courage. He spoke out against racism and lynching and was regarded as an important African American church leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
He was also married to Charlotte Forten Grimké, the noted educator and writer. Remembered today as both pastor and public witness, he left behind sermons and writings that still draw readers interested in the history of Black religious life, reform, and American democracy.