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If you care about climate change, racial justice or equality, thank a transcendentalist The 19th century movement has much to say to us today. A wooden marker denotes the site of Henry David Thoreau s cabin in Walden Pond, where he wrote his famous essay Walden.(Kirkikis / Getty Images) By John A. Buehrens . Often we first meet them in literature classes: chiefly through Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Yet they were more than writers, or individualists, praising “Self-Reliance,” or living at Walden Pond. Historically, transcendentalism was a movement of creative thinkers and activists, working for both spiritual and social transformation. They have much to say to us yet today.

United statesWalden pondMartin luther king jrJohn brownHenry david thoreauTheodore parkerFrederick douglassSamuel gridley howeJulia ward howeCaroline healey dallRalph waldo emersonJames freeman clarkeElizabeth peabodyParliament of the world religionsAmerican social science associationWomen ministerial association