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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Haunting and powerful. The illustrations really capture Hall’s words and the words of those whose story they are telling.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Rebecca Hall's Wake is an emotional graphic novel following Hall's archival research into resistance by enslaved women, and is well worth a read for anyone interested in history, race, gender, power and how the echoes of slavery are heard (or suppressed) today.
It's partly a history book, sharing Hall's discoveries about uprisings on ships and plantations instigated by women, challenging previous ideas about enslaved women's roles. It's also a memoir showing the painful impact on Hall of reconstructing these atrocities through the archive, and how the institutions of white supremacy blocked her research at every turn. How much more might we learn if the private archives of slaveholders were all opened, and the government didn't routinely destroy of conveniently lose records of colonialism?
It's partly a history book, sharing Hall's discoveries about uprisings on ships and plantations instigated by women, challenging previous ideas about enslaved women's roles. It's also a memoir showing the painful impact on Hall of reconstructing these atrocities through the archive, and how the institutions of white supremacy blocked her research at every turn. How much more might we learn if the private archives of slaveholders were all opened, and the government didn't routinely destroy of conveniently lose records of colonialism?
This desperately needed a different illustrator. The linework is distracting and took me out of the narrative. I actually think this might have worked better as a traditional written work. The subject matter is worthwhile and I can tell the author has poured herself into it.
3.5
I'm not really into graphic novels, but after hearing about the book on the A Word podcast, I was enthralled. I love the subject matter & being taught. I loved being brought into the author's story & fight as well.
I'm not really into graphic novels, but after hearing about the book on the A Word podcast, I was enthralled. I love the subject matter & being taught. I loved being brought into the author's story & fight as well.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
The art is not my style and the text is too small, but Hall's efforts to flesh out the history of slavery are heroic. I learned that African kings sold prisoners of war (not their own kind) in return for weapons, and that "the more women onboard a slave ship, the more likely a revolt would occur"—probably because they were not considered a threat and therefore, were not chained.
i read this for a class and it was super enlightening! i love the mix between autobiography and the "dramatization" of some of the study cases, which helps bringing to life these people. as someone who is currently working on a dissertation, reading about how rebecca worked on her research, the questions she had, the issues she encountered (either because of a lack of sources, or people being unwilling to help her), but also the personal connection she had with this topic.
i rently started reading about the uprising of women during the slavery period and this graphic novel was truly a needed addition to my readings. i learned a lot!
i rently started reading about the uprising of women during the slavery period and this graphic novel was truly a needed addition to my readings. i learned a lot!
An extremely humanizing account that brings the past, present, and future together beautifully. I'm inspired by the author, her dedication, work, and devotion; and by the women whose names and stories have been lost to history's denial of their personhood and experiences, but who nevertheless fought for the freedom of their communities.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced