A PROTEST HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES | Busboys and Poets Books

In this timely new book in Beacon's successful ReVisioning History series, professor Gloria Browne-Marshall delves into the history of protest movements and rebellion in the United States. Beginning with Indigenous peoples' resistance to European colonization and continuing through to today's climate change demonstrations, Browne-Marshall expands how to think about protest through sharing select historical moments and revealing the role of key players involved in those efforts.

Drawing upon legal documents, archival material, government documents and secondary sources, A Protest History of the United States gives voice to those who pushed back against the mistreatment of others, themselves, and in some instances planet Earth. Browne-Marshall highlights stories of individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and time periods who helped bring strong attention to their causes. Those examples of protest include those of Wahunsenacock, more commonly known to history as Chief Powhatan, who took on English invaders in pre-colonial America in 1607; legendary boxer Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in Vietnam and appealed all the way to the US Supreme Court; and David Buckel, LGBTQ+ rights lawyer and environmental activist who protested against fossil fuels by committing self-immolation in 2018.

Regardless of whether these protests accomplished their end goals, Browne-Marshall reminds us that not only is dissent meaningful and impactful but is an essential tool for eliciting long lasting change.

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside author Jesse J. Holland for a conversation about “the many different groups, causes, and methods that comprise the protest tradition from our nation's founding to today's pursuit of a more perfect union” (Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Victor S. Thomas Professor of History and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University). Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Browne-Marshall will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of A PROTEST HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.

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Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a writer, educator, legal advocate, and playwright. She is a professor of Constitutional Law and Africana Studies at John Jay College (CUNY) was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, as well as a Visiting Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. She won the 2024 American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award. Her books include She Took Justice: The Black Woman, Law, and Power, The Voting Rights War, and Race, Law, and American Society.

Jesse J. Holland is a nationally recognized author of the award-winning books, The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves Inside the White House and Black Men Built The Capitol: Discovering African American History in and Around Washington, D.C. He also has written novels and stories featuring some of the most popular science fiction and comic book heroes, including the Black Panther, Superman, Captain America and characters from the Star Wars universe.

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