Kellie Carter Jackson is the author of the book We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance. Her other books include Force and Freedom. She is the Michael and Denise Kellen 1968 Associate Professor and chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, and she lives in the Boston area.
Q: What inspired you to write We Refuse, and how was the book’s title chosen?
A: I wrote We Refuse because I was frustrated and angry, particularly by the symbolic efforts of 2020's racial reckoning and the violent backlash seen in academia and the country writ large. I wanted a title that reflected Black dissatisfaction and defiance to white supremacy.
It was important to me that the title also signal to the collective efforts of Black women, so "We" is essential in refusal. I really love the title. It's simple and powerful and actually came to me while I was on vacation!
Q: The historian Robin D.G. Kelley said of the book, “Kellie Carter Jackson is fearless. She is not afraid to tell you want she thinks, share what she knows, or challenge prevailing wisdom. We Refuse is proof.” What do you think of that assessment?
A: I am blown away by pretty much anything Robin D.G. Kelley writes, so to read his words about me was incredible. I was so honored because I could tell that he got it and me.
It is not easy to tell the truth. It is not easy to unravel a concept that many people have come to praise such as nonviolence. But I couldn't live with myself if I just wrote a run-of-the-mill book. I wrote the book I've always wanted to read.
Q: How did you research the book, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?
A: I spent several years researching and writing the book. I read a lot of primary and secondary sources and I drew a lot from outside of the field of history as well.
I wanted to think about media, the arts, culture, and contemporary politics. I'm a trained historian, but being in the Africana Studies Department allows me to also examine ideas with an interdisciplinary approach. I love expanding my ideas.
But I think I was surprised the most by my own family stories. I did not know about my ancestor's journey or many of the family anecdotes I share, which came from revelatory conversations with my mother, father and aunties.
Q: Especially given the current political climate, what do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: I hope readers really sit with the book and are encouraged and challenged by its ideas. This book is my love letter to the Black community and its allies.
I want readers to know that in navigating violent, racist, capitalist, and sexist systems, we have more than two options. We don't always have to choose between marching or burning it all down. We have an array of effective tools at our disposal. Furthermore, this work should never be done alone. It's not "I refuse, it's we."
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I always tell people I have like 10 jobs! I'm raising three rambunctious kids. I'm chairing my department in Africana Studies at Wellesley College. I'm working on a new podcast on Reconstruction, a book on the aftermath of Reconstruction, and my long-time work in progress on Joseph Laroche, the only Black passenger on the Titanic.
And you can always catch me three times a week as a co-host on the This Day podcast with Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: With this book, I got to narrate the audiobook. It was very cool and something I hope to do again. I also did something fun and created merch! So at my website www.kelliecarterjackson.com folks can order t-shirts, mugs, stickers, etc. For me "We Refuse" is a mantra. I'll be rocking my "We Refuse" tank top this summer! It's a vibe! Lol!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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