A radical reframing of the past and present of Black resistance—both nonviolent and violent—to white supremacy.
Join us for an event with author Kellie Carter Jackson and interlocutor Tikia K. Hamilton to discuss and sign her book, We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
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.
Author: Kellie Carter Jackson
Kellie Carter Jackson is the Michael and Denise Kellen 68’ Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. She is the author of the award-winning book, Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence. Her most recent, critically acclaimed work, We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance (Seal Press), examines a radical reframing of the past and present of Black resistance—both nonviolent and violent—to white supremacy. We Refuse was listed as one of the best books of 2024 by eight different publications and organizations. Dr. Carter-Jackson’s essays have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, NPR, and other outlets. She has also been interviewed for her expertise on Netflix, Apple TV, Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, MSNBC, PBS, Vox, CNN, the BBC, and a host of documentaries. Carter Jackson served as Historian-in-Residence for the Museum of African American History in Boston from 2021 - 2024. She also serves as a commissioner for the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Lastly, Carter Jackson loves a good podcast! She is the co-host of the podcast, “This Day in Esoteric Political History” with Jody Avirgan and Niki Hemmer.
Interlocutor: Tikia K. Hamilton
Tikia K. Hamilton is an Assistant Professor of History at Loyola University Chicago. Her research and courses focus on African American History. Dr. Hamilton holds a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University and a masters in African American Studies from Columbia University. She attended Dartmouth College for her undergraduate work, where she majored in History under a Mellon Fellowship. She has lengthy experience teaching at the secondary and undergraduate levels and working as an educational consultant. Her first book, entitled Before Brown: The Battle for Educational Equality in the Nation’s Capital, chronicles the various campaigns African Americans waged to obtain equal resources under segregation in the federal city and their ongoing fight against segregation. The book is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Dr. Hamilton is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Spencer Fellowship from National Academy of Education. She currently serves as a member of the Urban History Association Executive Board and the University Advisory Group for the DC History Center. Hamilton is also a native of Chicago and attended the Chicago Public Schools.