By Princess Osei Bonsu ,2025-2026 Research Collaborator at Power in Place
There are moments in research where the past feels relatable and far too personal. Learning about Sarah Parker Remond was one of those moments for me. I first came across Sarah Parker Remond during the beginning of my research at Power in Place. She wasn’t simply an abolitionist or a suffragist, but a woman who refused to accept the limitations society presented to her. She said no to limits shaped by race, gender, and even ones presented to her by virtue of where she found herself in life. Born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1826, Sarah Parker Remond grew up in a country where Black women were denied political rights, autonomy to their bodies, and even freedom of movement. Yet she refused to hide and not be seen. She even educated herself on own terms. What struck me most was how early she began. At just sixteen, Sarah Parker Remond was already speaking publicly against slavery. In a time when women were expected to be silent and “lady-like,” she chose to be present in lecture halls rather than to bow to societal norms. That choice sits deeply with me. As a student navigating academic and political spaces that were not designed with women of color in mind, I acknowledge the courage it takes to speak up and out anyway and to boldly express your opinions knowing it may be questioned, minimized, or extinguished completely. Her fight for both women’s political rights and against racial injustice cannot be talked about independently of one another. During her travels to Great Britain in 1858, She was not only fighting for abolition in the United States but she was also building a transatlantic network and space for Black intellectual and political thinking. In England, Ireland, and across Europe, she lectured to filled halls, encouraging people to audiences to be the judge and jury of the moral costs of slavery and racial hierarchy. She understood that public opinion, especially one that is international, could be a powerful tool and driver of change. One of the interesting things about Sarah in my research findings was her life in Italy. In 1866, Remond pursued medical training in Florence at the Santa Maria Nuova medical school. She was one of the first African American women to study medicine in Europe. This was not just a random dream; it was a radical move showcasing her strong will to challenge norms. Medicine, just like politics, was a male dominated field, and Sarah’s presence alone disrupted expectations. Her willingness and determination to cross borders, her intellectual pursuits and ability , as well as professional, and national endeavors feels especially relevant today, as many young colored women imagine futures that go beyond our homes and societal paths. The most admirable aspect of Remond, in my view, is how she remained respected while still holding on to resistance. Through her magnificent speech and her resolve not to let her education be stopped, in the first place becoming a matter of protest. The line that she walked between plotting and defiance is still a source of inspiration for me. It reminds me that resistance is not always messy, sometimes it is very precise, disciplined, and unyielding. Sarah Parker Remond was not here to witness the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women in the U.S. the right to vote. She passed away in Rome in 1894, several decades before the introduction of the 19th Amendment, and way before Black women could vote freely without being intimidated or excluded. However, her legacy magnifies our views on citizenship and voting rights. She was not only asking for the right to vote but also creating a new narrative about human dignity, a narrative that included access to education, movement, and complete civic belonging. Looking into the life of Sarah Parker Remond has changed my perception of my goals. Her life serves as a stamp to indicate that knowledge is power, that the voice carries with it a responsibility and that the intersectional identity rather than being a burden is a source of empowerment. She enlightens that being part of different worlds does not necessarily mean one has to forsake the cause of justice. Connecting with Sarah through time has made my own path in life clearer. I too want to use education as a lever to push for change. I too want to voice my opinion even if that is hard sometimes. And I also think that writing the complete account of women of color is not only an academic obligation, but it is an act of restitution. Sarah Parker Remond did not ask for permission to be important. So we shall not.
References
Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. “Sarah Parker Remond.” Iowa State University, https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/sarah-parker-remond/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Hamilton Hall. “Sarah Parker Remond and the Suffrage Movement.” Hamilton Hall, https://www.hamiltonhall.org/suffrage. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Irish America. “Sarah Parker Remond.” Irish America, 25 Sept. 2020, https://www.irishamerica.com/2020/09/sarah-parker-redmond/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025.
Princess Osei Bonsu is a Junior at Smith College Massachusetts majoring in Political Science and Geosciences. She is interested in social justice, reproductive justice, and politics. On campus, Princess works at the Office of Student Engagement.