Social movements begin with someone expressing an idea. Throughout history, many of those ideas have been expressed through literature. Some of these literary heroes are well-remembered long after they first made an impact, but others have slipped through the cracks. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Charles Dickens may sound familiar, but what about Gwendolyn Brooks and William Apess?

As cultures continue to build on the positive social movements of the past, we shouldn’t forget the past writers who made an impact. Here are some lesser-remembered authors whose written works have contributed to positive social change.

Historical Writers Who Shaped Modern Social Movements

Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820)

In 1791, Judith Sargent Murray took up her pen and challenged the world: Why should women be denied an education? Her essay, ‘On the Equality of the Sexes,’ argued for a radical idea—one that would spark change for generations. “On the Equality,” and many more of her essays, argued against negative female stereotypes and advocated for equal education (Ertekin-Taner, 2023).  

Murray’s writings inspired other women, especially American mothers, to become better educated for the sake of their children. She directly influenced a movement during her lifetime that would be known as “Republican Motherhood,” and this helped to pave the way for other female equal rights movements.

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)

While Murray’s work laid the foundation for women’s rights, another lesser-known figure influenced the course of computing: Ada Lovelace.

Ada Lovelace wrote often to Charles Babbage, a mathematician whose calculating machines laid the foundation for computers. When Lovelace translated one of his articles from French to English in 1848, she added her own comments, including the idea that Babbage’s invention could be used for more than just mathematics (Siffert, 2024).

By translating Babbage’s work and adding her own notes, Lovelace preserved both her and Babbage’s ideas. When the computer science movement began in the early 1900s, Lovelace’s writings became better known, but she is still overlooked today. Even after her death, Lovelace’s writings have helped to shape the computer-rich environment we see today. 

Overlooked Writers Whose Autobiographies Influenced Social Views

Beyond essays and activism, personal stories have the power to shape public opinion. The following writers used their autobiographies to challenge oppression and redefine history.

William Apess (1798-1839)

William Apess was a mixed-race Pequot writer who published the first known Native American autobiography (Oregon Public, 2003). His essays, sermons, and autobiographical works explained the then-current prejudices against Native Americans, issues within the Native American communities, and the inherent rights of Native Americans as human beings. 

Apess’s writings made others more aware of the local governments’ corrupt dealings with Native American communities. His works and influence allowed him to advocate both for better treatment outside of Native American communities and improvements within Native American communities. 

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

In 1845, Frederick Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. As a slave who escaped from the American South before the Civil War, Douglass was able to shed light on his experiences to a wide audience while also arguing to abolish slavery. 

Douglass’s bestselling book helped to grow the number of supporters of the abolitionist movement. This movement influenced the American Civil War and its outcome of the United States deciding to end American slavery.

Unsung Writers Who Preserved Culture and History Through Fiction and Poetry

While exploring their imaginations, these writers also wrote fiction that engaged their cultural history. Their descriptive writing preserved the past while offering new expressions for the future.

Zitkala-Ša (1876-1938)

Zitkala-Ša was a Yankton Sioux author who translated and published Sioux myths for an English-speaking audience (Eastern Oregon, 2020). She also wrote essays and books that shared her and her tribe’s history, culture, and modern-day experiences. 

Through her books, Zitkala-Ša introduced Native American culture to new audiences. Her nonfiction writings also shed light on the unfair treatment of Native Americans, which allowed her and other Native Americans to advocate strongly for equal rights (Mathias, 2022). 

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

Gwendolyn Brooks was an author who influenced the American Civil Rights movement through her poetry. She used immersive, descriptive language to draw her readers into vivid images of African American life or cultural figures. Her contributions earned her a Pulitzer Prize for poetry (Boozer, 2021), but she remains overlooked today.

Brooks’s poems celebrated people she wanted to emphasize as important contributors to the ongoing movement. Her poems also built on the previous foundation laid by poets and artists during the creative Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. Just as Brooks’s poetry was shaped by artists from previous movements, her poetry shaped artists in later movements.

Remembering the Forgotten Influential Writers

Whether preserving history, celebrating the present, or advocating for the future, writers have been an important driving force behind social movements in history. These are only a few of the underappreciated writers who have influenced today’s social and cultural views.

Today, anyone armed with a pen and a purpose can continue to leave a mark. Without forgetting the past, the writers of today can contribute to positive social change, building on the legacy of these influential authors. Which of these writers inspires you the most?

Sources:

Boozer, C. (2021, June 7). Creating to Inspire Social Change: A Brief Look into Gwendolyn Brooks. Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/copyright/2021/06/creating-to-inspire-social-change-a-brief-look-into-gwendolyn-brooks/.

Ertekin-Taner, S. (2023, April 12). 9 Must-Read Works of Historical Protest Literature. Catalyst Planet. https://www.catalystplanet.com/travel-and-social-action-stories/9-must-read-works-of-historical-protest-literature.

Eastern Oregon University. (2020, October 2). A Look at the American Literary Movements. https://online.eou.edu/resources/article/a-look-at-the-american-literary-movements/.

Mathias, M. (2022). Zitkála-Šá (“Red Bird”/Gertrude Simmons Bonnin). National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/zitkala-sa.

Michals, D. (2015). Judith Sargent Murray. National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/judith-sargent-murray.

Oregon Public Broadcasting. (2003). “William Apess (1798-1839).” American Passages: A Literary Survey. Annenberg Learner. https://www.learner.org/series/american-passages-a-literary-survey/spirit-of-nationalism/william-apess-1798-1839/. 

Siffert, A. (2024). Ada Lovelace and the First Computer Programme in the World. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. https://www.mpg.de/female-pioneers-of-science/Ada-Lovelace.