"The lesson to Black people … to everybody, is that you should always fight for your rights, even if it costs you your life. Stand up for your rights, even if it kills you. That’s all that life consists of.” p52

It’s important to know who these young ones were— who they really were —before they became iconic, transformative symbols of racial injustice. To know them, to know their stories, is to know that to be poor isn’t to be without value. p49

This book makes a wonderful primer for anyone wanting to know more about the history of Black activism in the US. Equal parts heartbreaking, eye-opening, and inspiring, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. This book contain an immense amount of information, so I don't recommend binging, but I definitely understand if you do.

Please be aware that this book contains content that certain readers may find challenging. Some trigger warnings include police violence, police shootings, nooses and lynching, racist political and justice systems, and more. Be sure to check the publisher's page for a complete list.

I recommend this book for readers interested in Black American history, history of racism in the US, Black activists and activism, criminal and social justice, and well-researched nonfiction.

Perspective breeds empathy, and empathy nurtures understanding. p176

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The roots of resistance is in civility, for Ella Baker, and empathy, listening to stories of her grandmother, Josephine's enslavement. This is where Ella spent her formative years: a hallowed home that defined her calling, her point of being, her why. There, she was bathed in advocacy, becoming acutely aware of what an unranked society could be. One that was rooted in communal improvement and egalitarian principles , where you could involve yourself with people and their needs. There, she witnessed her family change their world inch by inch, person by person. p24

2. When you’re living in poverty and new to America and grouped into Blackness, you don’t know you’re also part of America’s history directly tied to race as it relates to sectionalism. All you know is survival. p31 A clear distinction in the experiences between African immigrants and Black Americans. Blackness is not a monolith.

3. This book is extremely well organized. There is an abundance of information here, and it could have easily overwhelmed the book. But she has arranged the information perfectly, down to how much data she delivers in each sentence. Beautiful writing!

4. I never knew this about flappers. I love when books teach me a new aspect about familiar history. Female performers known as flappers in the North embodied this new era of liberation and were christened the “new woman.” ...Flappers became a powerful symbol of women explicitly expressing their sexuality and primacy. p31

Rating: 🪧🪧🪧🪧.5 /5 protest signs
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 4 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🟰 social equity
🪧 activism
⚖️ criminal justice reform
🇺🇲 US history
👩🏾‍🏫 Black history

Thank you to the author Rita Omokha, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of RESIST. All views are mine.

The story of young Black activists at the helm of fighting injustice over the last century, from the 1920s to the Trayvon generation, and how they transformed America and left an indelible mark on history. I read this story carefully to find that this story is full of struggle ad courage.

“Resist” is a knockout read on young Black activism in America that makes history feel alive and personal. It had me reflecting on my own life, regretting not speaking up more against injustice. The courage of these young activists is truly awe-inspiring. Spanning a century, the book takes us from pioneers like Ella Baker to today’s trailblazers, shaped by pivotal events like George Floyd’s death. Rita Omokha, with her Nigerian immigrant perspective, vividly illustrates how these activists have influenced American history and democracy. Omokha emphasizes that every injustice is worth fighting against.

This book really hits hard, and I was hooked from start to finish. A big shoutout to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me dive into this advance copy!

This book is equal parts history lesson and memoir, and I really enjoyed the unique format. First, the author shared her background as a Nigerian immigrant along with the nuance of living in America, but not as a descendant of slavery. As the author eloquently relays, that fact still did not protect her from the discrimination and otherness stemming from the long held biases that began in the era of slavery. In subsequent chapters, she shares her thoughts on the historical subject matter in opening and closing remarks, almost in an editorial fashion, before providing an in depth look at the events, cultural climate and activists that shaped the civil rights movement and beyond. The author blends these historical facts with her own personal anecdotes, giving us a vivid picture of young Black activists who have been at the forefront of the fight for justice over the past century.

Many things needn’t have occurred to me growing up as a middle class white American, particularly as it relates to being Black in America and certainly not the nuance of being a Black immigrant. I’m embarrassed to admit that, but am thankful to have authors such as Rita Omokha to help fill in the gaps that were both left intentionally by a lacking curriculum and a willful complacency. I will never fully understand what Blackness is, be it for those whose ancestry can only be traced back to the name of a boat (if even that,) or for those who came here in search of opportunity, but I can consume highly researched and educated books to help build a better framework of appreciation, compassion and knowledge.

Resist" is a wonderful choice for just that reason. It is not just a history lesson; it's a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and the vital role that young activists continue to play. This book is a tribute to their resilience and a call to action for readers to stay informed and involved.