People's Historians Podcast We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance (w/ Kellie Carter Jackson)
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Sep 17, 2024 
Kellie Carter Jackson, a historian and author specializing in Black radicalism, discusses her book, which reframes the narrative of Black resistance against white supremacy. She shares her great-grandmother's story to highlight the theme of refusal. Kellie contrasts the Haitian and American revolutions, emphasizing the systemic need for abolition. She presents local acts of resistance, like the Lancaster Black Self-Protection Society, and argues that joy, through dance and laughter, serves as a vital form of resistance against oppression.
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Family Story Of Refusal And Survival
- Kellie Carter Jackson opens with her great-grandmother Ernesta's story of being denied medical care and saved by family remedies, leaving a lifelong limp.
- Her great-great-grandmother refused a doctor's exploitative demand, illustrating refusal as a life-or-death choice across generations.
Refusal As The Root Of Resistance
- Jackson reframes 'refusal' as the root or 'why' behind diverse forms of Black resistance rather than a simple 'no'.
- Refusal allows analyzing resistance beyond the violent/nonviolent binary to capture collective cultural practices.
What Makes A Revolution Truly Revolutionary
- Jackson contrasts Haiti's true revolution, which abolished slavery, with the American Revolution that preserved slavery and existing hierarchies.
- She argues genuine revolution must dismantle oppressive systems and that sustaining victories is the hardest work.
