A Protest History of the United States

A Protest History of the United StatesExploring 500 years of protest and resistance in US history and how its force is foundational and can empower us to navigate our chaotic world 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

Exploring 500 years of protest and resistance in US history--and how its force is foundational and can empower us to navigate our chaotic world

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 sheds light on known and forgotten movements and their unsung leaders, revealing how protest has shaped our nation and remains a vital force for change today.

Drawing upon legal documents, archival material, government documents and secondary sources, and memoir, 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 stories include those of:

• Wahunsenacock, commonly known as Chief Powhatan, who took on English invaders in pre-colonial America in 1607;
• legendary boxer Muhammad Ali who refused to be inducted into the US military during the Vietnam era 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 dissent is always meaningful and impactful. In fact, reading this book is an act of protest.

Author: Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 04/22/2025
Pages: 360
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.20w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780807010815


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 05/30/2025 pg. 12
Booklist 04/01/2025 pg. 6

About the Author
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a writer, an educator, a legal advocate, and a 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.