RESIST

From Joan of Arc in 1429 to the Movement for Black Lives and the Women’s March in 2017, profiles of ordinary people resisting the status quo on principle lead to lessons for young people.

Throughout the ages and spanning the globe, people have needed to raise their voices and wield pens, swords, or nonviolent bodies to call attention to societal wrongs. In this collective biography, readers meet 35 such change-makers from history distant and recent. Martin Luther and Galileo openly challenged major institutions. Sitting Bull, Queen Liliuokalani, and Mohandas Gandhi resisted the colonialists who took over their land and oppressed their people. Some inspired through art or environmentalism, and many fought for the right to be treated equally regardless of gender, race, color, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Most readers will find stories they haven’t heard before in this volume and will discover new inspiration from the familiar. Each brief profile begins with a quote and ends with a “resist lesson” such as “One voice can shake the earth” or “Oppression isolates us. Resistance unites us.” They are written in an engaging third-person narrative style highlighting what distinguishes their subjects and occasionally what we can learn from their examples (“Not all powerful people shout”). Despite their subjects’ renown, they are presented so that their strength is inspiring rather than overwhelming or distancing, often a result of personal growth, key moments, and intentional networking.

A resource to enrich the shelves of every home and library.