Quakers: That of God in Everyone

Filmmaker Isaac Stambaugh's excellent documentary skillfully traces the impact of Quakers on American history, from the Colonial era up into the 21st century. Arriving in the future nation during the late 17th century, William Penn and fellow Quaker settlers took possession of land granted them by England's throne, but also wrote compensatory treaties with the indigenous peoples who were already here. Spreading up and down the East Coast, the Quakers would eventually find their principles in direct conflict with the country's growing reliance on a slave-based economy. Many Quakers migrated from the south to Ohio and other Northwest Territories, often taking slaves along and freeing them upon arrival (Quakers were also instrumental in helping slaves escape through the Underground Railroad). Stories of Quaker philanthropists and activists are abundant here, including those of Sarah and Isaac Harvey, who gained a private audience with Abraham Lincoln and had a hand in his thinking concerning the language of the Emancipation Proclamation. The role of pacifist Quakers in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the first Gulf War is explored, offering an impressive account of men and women acting on their consciences yet not shirking responsibilities (driving ambulances and providing relief in the thick of battle action). Quaker involvement in the Civil Rights movement is also covered here, as is the role of Quaker schools in contemporary U.S. society. Serving up a fine historical study of a religious group's trials and triumphs while living in an often fractious, violent land, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)