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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Fantastic storytelling about the history of resistance by Black youth to systemic racial oppression in America. Difficult but gives hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America by Rita Omokha was a Macmillan Audio pick, and there’s no way I can review this book. It would be like reviewing history; one cannot rate facts. But let me tell you about it. Rita Omokha is a Nigerian immigrant who came to America at a very young age with her mother and brothers. Rita describes discovering her Blackness throughout her life–she says, “my identity has been defined by this uniquely American construct of race.” Rita received a degree in journalism shortly before the murder of George Floyd and she felt “jolted into action” when she saw the video of his slaying. She road-tripped and researched in order to gather better understanding of the current state of American culture and injustice, “Because the more we learn about each other and society, the further we move from the oblivion and hate that stems from ignorance. And the quicker we can move to the acceptance that comes from education and understanding.”
Rita begins the history she discusses throughout the book with The HBCU Revolts and Ella Baker–the former of which I wasn’t taught in school history (go figure) and the latter who was essentially a footnote in the history I learned. As for the rest of the activists and events throughout this book, most I had not heard of before, so I was really glad to be learning about people and events that were passed over in my education. Needless to say, my eyes were further opened; a decolonization of my mind has been happening since the killing of George Floyd, and this book was a huge help to me and my knowledge and understanding, and I really appreciate the work Rita put into this book for people who need this information. Because information is a need, education is essential, as Rita also professed throughout the book.
We must address our biases. I loved the story that Rita shared at the end of the book about having an open and constructive conversation with an elderly, white couple during which she and they came together to discuss differing ideas in a way that was not filled with hate and asked each other to consider varied points of view. In the end, Rita says, “unity is not about putting aside our differences or pretending they don’t exist. If it were, there would be no need to be unified in the first place. My conversation with Bev and Harry taught me that unity is coming together with our differences and recognizing that our dissimilarities enriches our collective experience. It requires open communication and a willingness to actively listen to understand. That kind of unity becomes a testament to our shared humanity and our ability to transcend barriers to create a more harmonious world that American democracy, the Constitution, aspires to.”
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
“The torch of resistance hasn’t just been passed down, it burns bright in the hands of future generations.”
I knew many of these stories, but compiled in this way made it such a powerful listen. So many brave activists moved things forward, but we have miles and miles left to go. This was a call to action to pay attention and get involved.
I knew many of these stories, but compiled in this way made it such a powerful listen. So many brave activists moved things forward, but we have miles and miles left to go. This was a call to action to pay attention and get involved.
4.25/5 gifted by the publisher
A great history/memoir/essay about black activism focusing on young activists. I really enjoyed the unique format of introducing the larger socio political environment, the activists involved in the movements, followed by the author’s short essay about the impacts of these essential events and people
A great introductory read to black resistance that’s very approachable!
A great history/memoir/essay about black activism focusing on young activists. I really enjoyed the unique format of introducing the larger socio political environment, the activists involved in the movements, followed by the author’s short essay about the impacts of these essential events and people
A great introductory read to black resistance that’s very approachable!