Tweet-a-week: Frances Wright

Frances Wright (or Fanny) was a very accomplished woman and a radical thinker. Born in Scotland, both of Wright's parents died young leaving her as an orphan with a large inheritance and in the care of her Aunt that lived in England. As she grew up, she returned to Scotland only to eventually emigrate to the States at 23 to form the "Nashoba Commune" in Tennessee, a utopian-type society where Wright attempts to recruit slaves and other abolitionists to work towards freedom for the slaves. However, it only lasted for three years due to financial troubles, leading Wright to simply free them after the commune falls apart.

Along with being an abolitionist, Wright was also a feminist who wanted more rights for women. In many respects, Wright was a dedicated social reformer who wrote and gave lectures on behalf of change. Her radical ideas, writing and lectures were well known throughout the nation, not excluding Whitman who was a fan and attended her lectures. Whitman's attention to Wright and her female contemporaries undoubtedly had a major impact on his own views and poetry. Particularly in "Song for Occupations", Whitman emphasizes the equality between men and women and I can't help but think that Wright at least contributed to his standpoint (as well as other radical ideas such as equality for slaves and the working class).