Description
A radical reframing of the past and present of Black resistance—both nonviolent and violent—to white supremacy

Black resistance to white supremacy is often reduced to a simple binary, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence and Malcolm X’s “by any means necessary.” In We Refuse, historian Kellie Carter Jackson urges us to move past this false choice, offering an unflinching examination of the breadth of Black responses to white oppression, particularly those pioneered by Black women.

The dismissal of “Black violence” as an illegitimate form of resistance is itself a manifestation of white supremacy, a distraction from the insidious, unrelenting violence of structural racism. Force—from work stoppages and property destruction to armed revolt—has played a pivotal part in securing freedom and justice for Black people since the days of the American and Haitian Revolutions. But violence is only one tool among many. Carter Jackson examines other, no less vital tactics that have shaped the Black struggle, from the restorative power of finding joy in the face of suffering to the quiet strength of simply walking away.

Clear-eyed, impassioned, and ultimately hopeful, We Refuse offers a fundamental corrective to the historical record, a love letter to Black resilience, and a path toward liberation.

My Take:
The promise of the description is fulfilled in the book. A great example of how history marries well with womanist theopoetics, Black refusal is not always realized via violence-although sometimes needs must- but in quieter pursuits such as flight, dance, faith, and joy. I recommend this book without reservation for historical societies, museums, academic collectives, churches and more. Get this for your libraries and your altars.

Using examples both from (mostly) US history at large and her family's own history, Kellie Carter Jackson expertly and unapologetically puts on clear display the wide range of strategies and tools that black women and men have used to resist white supremacy and oppressive systems over the centuries, and continue to do so. "We Refuse" is one of those history books that's an eye-opening mini-education readably packed into a few hundred pages - which in turns speaks to both the failures of my education (and others) growing up in the United States, and the very clear need for works like Jackson's. As a librarian, I definitely consider this a must-have for both public and academic shelves.

"We Refuse" by Kellie Carter Jackson is a powerful, necessary addition to the existing literature on Black resistance. Carter Jackson, drawing from her expertise as a historian and her personal experiences, challenges the simplistic narrative often imposed upon Black struggles against white supremacy. Rejecting the dichotomy between nonviolence and violent resistance, she explores the myriad tactics used by Black folks and Black communities throughout history.

From the beginning of the book, Carter Jackson positions herself within a tradition of scholars like W.E.B. DuBois, asserting the unyielding belief in Black humanity and the rejection of deference to oppressive systems. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, she dismantles the myth of scarcity perpetuated by racism, instead advocating for collective refusal of the status quo.

The book is a well-paced blend of personal stories intertwined with historical accounts and offers a deeply intimate perspective on the resilience and courage of Black folks. Carter Jackson's homage to her own ancestors, particularly her great-great-great-grandmother denied medical care as a child, serves as a reminder of the stakes involved in resisting systemic oppression. There are so many additional stories highlighting the resistance efforts of young black girls who've been mostly erased from historical records that make this book one of a kind!

One of the book's many strengths lies in its exploration of lesser-known forms of resistance, such as truancy as a means of withholding labor and reclaiming autonomy. Carter Jackson handles these topics with sensitivity and respect, highlighting the ingenuity and creativity of enslaved individuals in navigating their circumstances. Loved the subheading on flight as another resistance mechanism and read it over 3x!

Carter Jackson dives into the complexities of protection violence, exploring its necessity within the context of survival and self-defense. Through in-depth analyses of historical events like the Boston Tea Party and the Christiana Resistance, she contextualizes these acts of resistance within larger narratives of Black liberation.

"We Refuse" serves as both a corrective to historical inaccuracies and a celebration of Black strength and power. Carter Jackson's prose is impassioned and compelling, refusing to let Black stories be forgotten or reduced to the margins. This book is a testament to the power of refusal as a cultural and political force, offering readers a path towards healing and liberation.

"We Refuse" is an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Black resistance and the ongoing struggle for justice. Kellie Carter Jackson's scholarship is not only informative but outstanding among most books I've read on the subject. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read!

I would best describe We Refuse as a "strong" book. It is bold in its argument and in its connecting the past to the present, both in terms of our nation and in the author's personal history. Jackson makes the case that black resistance has had a much wider scope than has typically been considered in American history. The personal stories of her family experiences link the larger narrative to individual histories. Throughout the book, she makes a compelling argument that resistance has always been the key to freedom, and that without individuals' agency, there may not have been a cause to change the status quo.

The book's best contribution is in the previously unknown stories of several historical figures. The Christiana Rebellion will be new for several readers, and the story of Williams, Mabel, and Roberts will force readers to reconceptualize African American history and its popular theme of passive aggressiveness towards change. Even Harriet Tubman's story gets a unique perspective. While many people may have heard about her activism, she is portrayed as more militant and more combative than in the past. Maybe unsettling for some, but a much needed correction to the subdued, sanguine myth of the Underground Railroad leader that we tend to adopt as children.

Jackson ends the book on a sense of positive, forward thinking. Joy, she writes, is also inherently a form of resistance. It can lead to improved conditions, positive mental states, and can be the spark for future action. It allows people to stand up forcefully and work against the system.

For readers who think the story of black advocacy has already been written, read We Refuse.

As a historian, this is an important book. There is a gap in research discussing violent resistance from this point of view with in historical literature. The only reason for not being five stars is because it some points the other loses focus. This does not mean it’s not an important book though. Thank you to Net Galley for this arc.

Before I say anything related to the actual text, I’m going to say that seeing this cover for the first time on a list of upcoming Black history titles for 2024 had me just… stunned. The cover should win awards and should be submitted by the publisher and artist for such consideration of awards, because it hits the viewer so hard and made me go back and just sit there, stunned, by its glory and its power and all the themes raised by the imagery.

“We Refuse” is going to be one of the most galvanizing and impactful reads in 2024.

“This is a book about the ways Black people in America have responded to white supremacy—including through force....’We Refuse’ is…the story of what Black people have done and continue to do to confront, combat, and crush white supremacy.”

The author further asserts: “Until we all get free, America will continue to be a violent place and Black people will continue to refuse.”

One chapter is devoted to Black people in the French Antilles where violence and even the threat of violence ‘guaranteed that liberation could not be ignored or delayed.’ France abolished slavery in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and their other enslaved colonies in 1848, led by Victor Schoelcher, a writer and abolitionist. He was the first white abolitionist to visit Haiti after it won its independence — something that the Western world is still making it pay for in more ways than one.

The author also reminds us that revolutions “do not require violence, but violence can ensure certain guarantees.”

Throughout each chapter, the author chronicles her family’s history as related to the topics at hand. Her great-grandparents and their 16 children moved from West Feliciana, Louisiana to Darlove, Mississippi to a place where opportunities were bleak and a farm where resources were always scarce. Through a family tragedy that seems like a miracle that it didn’t go the way it would normally have gone in other places, we learn about how Black labor was the lifeblood of the state of Mississippi. Later on in the chapter, the author expands on the financial incentives in place for the capture and return of runaway fugitive slaves back to the plantations from which they had fled. This leads to a discussion of the 1836 Abolition Riot in Boston, which then leads to information about why many enslaved people who fled from Maryland sought their freedom over the Pennsylvania state line, and further about how the second Fugitive Slave Act of the early 1850s made things more horrible, allowing slave catchers to cross state lines to find those runaways and drag them back to plantations. The only way to be sure that enslaved people who had fled could not be apprehended by the slave catchers was if they could cross over into Canada.

The author discusses lynchings and how white townsfolk, particularly those in power, knew how to terrorize Black residents. The NAACP is discussed as are significant figures like activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

This is an essential text for anyone looking to understand more about Black resistance and I hope that several libraries buy copies of the book in multiple formats, and that it sells many copies.

As a historian this is an important book. There is a gap in research discussing violent resistance from this point of view with in historical literature. The only reason for not being five stars is because it some points the other loses focus. This does not mean it’s not an important book though. Thank you to Net Galley for this arc.