Francis James Grimké in the 21st Century: A Bibliography of Recent Literature

Francis James Grimké (November 4, 1850–October 11, 1937) was a Presbyterian pastor who served most of his life in Washington, D.C. After his death, Carter G. Woodson selected a number of papers, addresses, and letters in his monumental 4 volume The Works of Francis J. Grimké. Woodson considered Grimké one of the most significant figures of his time: “probably no other man living made a larger contribution to this outcome [the improvement of the lives of Black people in America] than did this uncompromising and unyielding agent of righteousness and truth” (“Introduction,” The Works of FJG, 1:xix).

In our day, Grimké is not recognized as widely as he should be. His Works are out of print; many of his sermons and addresses are in archives unaccessible to the public; the only book-length treatment of him was a single dissertation published nearly fifty years ago (Henry J. Ferry, “Francis James Grimke: Portrait of a Black Puritan,” Yale, 1974).

When trying to “retrieve” a historical figure’s and their legacy, one runs in to the issue of selectivity. In Grimké’s case, Dr. Jemar Tisby notes this: “Some white evangelical and Reformed folks may want to make Francis Grimké into a Black mascot because he was Presbyterian and/or they liked his theology. But they will selectively quote him to fit their narrative of a sound/safe Black preacher” (Tweet, May 28, 2020, referencing Malcolm Foley chapter below).

In recent years, Francis Grimké’s life and writings have found their way into a wide variety of books and articles, a testament to the irrepressibility of his influence. The following is a brief survey of some of the books, chapters, articles, anthologies, and blog posts that make reference to Francis James Grimké in a significant way (i.e., more than a passing reference). As you read through the list, consider the breadth of subjects that intersect with the life and work of Francis Grimké. In the words of Woodson, again, “In his works all important issues before the American people and how they were decided may be studied.”

This post could also serve as a helpful “where to start?” reading Grimké. The four volumes of Grimké’s Works stretch to over 2,400 pages, and it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. This post at least shows what historians, scholars, editors, and other authors have found significant over the past 20–25 years.

I’ve arranged items within the categories in chronological order. If you know of something that I haven’t included here, drop me a note in the comments, and I’ll add it!