We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance

"We Refuse" is an eye-opening look at this country's history of slavery, racial discrimination, violence, and the Black women who dared to challenge it with bold conviction. We learn about women from the Haitian Revolution, women who confronted white supremacists when their lives were on the line, and women who were willing to put everything on the line to protect their families, friends, and community. It's an incredible feeling to read about such heroics in the face of danger.

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First, the book cover sells itself. I need that photo hanging in my home.We Refuse is the history book that I’ve been looking for. The American school system, they want us to think that the only black heroes are MLK and Rosa Parks. They teach us only about those two because of the nonviolent, peaceful protest approach. America makes us believe that Malcolm X, Fred Hampton, Harriet Tubman, and the Black Pather Party are bad and the wrong way to go about justice. And what’s crazy is that many people believe this nonsense.“Nonviolence never saved anyone.”“There is no form of protest white supremacy will approve. Whether Black people take a knee or burn down the QuikTrip, the backlash will always be the same. Appeasing white power struggles will not work.”Kellie Carter Jackson introduces us to many people who chose other ways to say no to white oppression. And no, I’m not only referring to fighting violence with violence.I’ve learned more about my people’s history from this book, then all my years in the public school system. And there are so many women (who I’ve never heard of before) who were badass. This is a must-read for everyone.The book has five sections. Revolution, protection, force, flight, and joy. All the sections were outstanding, but the joy one almost brought me to tears.This book is full of sentences and paragraphs that you could quote. Here’s one:“Nearly every African American could teach a master class in refusing the terms in our degradation.”I can go on and on, but just read the book.

This meticulously researched novel doesn’t just explore black resistance, but celebrates it. This is the history that needs to be taught in schools, not the usual white washed fare that’s been dolled out for a hundred years. This is a powerful book and spans from the Haitian Revolution to modern day. So well done!

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This was a really good book. Full of examples of black Americans throughout history, many lesser known. The author also gives you the titles of books they’ve written so you can branch off into other civil rights activists and historians. The book is separated into 5 chapters, each representing a way black people have resisted white supremacy over the many years; Revolution, protection, flight, force and joy. Highly recommend