Key Takeaways
1. Protest is the Enduring Force for American Progress
Progress comes from public pressure creating equality under law, because for most of this nation’s history the Rule of Law was a grand idea whereby every person was equal under law.
America's Dual Nature. The United States was born from rebellion, yet it has always maintained a dual personality: an ideal of liberty for all ("America") and a brutal reality of oppression ("the United States"). This inherent contradiction, where freedom is declared with one hand while injustice is inflicted with the other, makes protest a natural and necessary response. It is the constant pushback against this hypocrisy that has slowly, painfully, nudged the nation toward its stated ideals.
Protest as Spiritual Act. For many, protest is not merely a political act but a spiritual one, a courageous defiance against injustice by law or tradition. Whether it's a single individual questioning authority or masses chanting in unison, the motivation is to make a difference despite potential consequences. This deep-seated conviction transforms grievances into collective action, revealing that the limits of tyranny are prescribed only by the endurance of the oppressed.
Beyond Traditional Definitions. Protest is expansive, encompassing everything from precisely planned labor actions and anti-war marches to spontaneous slave uprisings and urban rebellions. It includes small acts of defiance like refusing to move, standing up, speaking out, or remaining silent with a raised fist. These myriad forms of resistance, often by marginalized groups, are the true engines of social change, forcing stakeholders and politicians to confront uncomfortable truths and move towards a more just society.
2. Indigenous Resistance: America's Original Protest
For five centuries, Indigenous peoples fought an enemy—first Europeans, then Americans—intent on creating an unnatural empire on stolen land.
Five Centuries of Struggle. Indigenous peoples of North America have waged the longest struggle against oppression, continuously fighting to protect their land, life, and culture from invaders. From the moment Europeans arrived, claiming land under royal charters and papal bulls, Indigenous nations met these incursions with diverse forms of resistance, including diplomacy, warfare, legal challenges, and the steadfast continuation of their cultural traditions.
The Cost of "Discovery." European "discovery" was, in reality, a brutal act of conquest, justified by covetous descriptions of rich natural resources and a pervasive ideology of settler colonialism. This mindset led to the systematic dispossession of Indigenous lands, the destruction of their advanced governmental structures, economies, and religions, and the demonization of Native peoples as "savages" for defending themselves. The Anglo-Powhatan War and Pontiac's Rebellion are stark examples of this early, violent resistance.
Resilience and Modern Movements. Despite massacres like Wounded Knee, forced assimilation through boarding schools, and broken treaties, Indigenous peoples have maintained their spiritual connection to Mother Earth and their cultural heritage. Modern movements like the occupation of Alcatraz and the Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline demonstrate this enduring spirit, uniting diverse tribes and allies to assert sovereignty, protect sacred sites, and demand environmental justice.
3. The Fight Against Enslavement and Jim Crow: A Legacy of Black Defiance
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
Defiance in Bondage. From the first Africans brought to Virginia in 1619, resistance to enslavement was constant, taking forms from subtle acts of sabotage to daring escapes and violent revolts. Laws like the "Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall" and the 1669 statute permitting the killing of enslaved people with impunity reveal the brutality of the system, yet enslaved individuals like Eliza (the author's ancestor) and leaders like Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner fiercely fought back, often paying the ultimate price.
The Hypocrisy of Freedom. Frederick Douglass powerfully articulated the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating independence while millions remained enslaved. His autobiography and speeches, like "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?", were acts of protest, challenging the lies of African ignorance and demanding recognition of Black humanity. The Civil War, fueled by the blood of hundreds of thousands, including African American soldiers fighting for their own liberation, ultimately ended legal slavery.
Jim Crow's New Chains. The promise of post-Civil War freedom was quickly undermined by Black Codes, White terrorism, and the Supreme Court's "separate but equal" ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. This era of Jim Crow segregation necessitated new forms of protest, from Ida B. Wells-Barnett's anti-lynching crusades to Marcus Garvey's Black nationalist movement and the NAACP's legal battles. These efforts, often met with violence and political obstruction, laid the groundwork for the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement.
4. Labor's Struggle: Uniting Against Corporate Greed
There is never peace in West Virginia because there is never justice.
Gilded Age Exploitation. The Gilded Age saw industrialists amass immense wealth by exploiting workers, who toiled long hours in unsafe conditions for starvation wages. This era, marked by monopolies and a feudal-like system, spurred the rise of labor unions. Early protests, like the Lowell Mill Girls' strikes for better wages and a ten-hour workday, demonstrated the power of collective action, even when met with corporate resistance and the use of immigrant labor to undercut demands.
Battles for Dignity. The fight for labor rights was often violent, as seen in the Haymarket riot, where workers demanding an eight-hour day were met with police brutality and unjust executions. Mother Jones, "the most dangerous woman in America," tirelessly organized coal miners in West Virginia, confronting company thugs and "yellow dog" contracts that stripped workers of their rights. The Matewan Massacre and the Battle of Blair Mountain highlight the deadly stakes of these struggles.
Progress and Persistent Challenges. Victories like the recognition of A. Philip Randolph's Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the passage of the Wagner Act and Fair Labor Standards Act brought significant gains, but the struggle continued. From the Pecan Shellers Strike to the Delano Grape Strike led by Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong, and the Memphis sanitation workers' strike supported by Dr. King, labor movements have consistently pushed for economic justice. Today, Amazon workers and other service industries continue this fight against corporate power, demonstrating that unity remains labor's strongest weapon.
5. Challenging War: Conscientious Objection and Anti-Militarism
Nuclear weapons are like slavery.
War as National Identity. The United States has a long history of engaging in armed conflict, often portraying war as a necessary sacrifice for global freedom, even while denying freedom to its own citizens. This militaristic identity has been consistently challenged by pacifists and conscientious objectors, from Quakers in colonial times to Jehovah's Witnesses in the 20th century, who refused to participate in violence based on religious or moral convictions.
Military Service as Protest. For many people of color, particularly African Americans, military service itself became a form of protest, a way to prove patriotism and demand full citizenship rights in a nation that denied them. Despite facing segregation, discrimination, and dangerous assignments like the Port Chicago Mutiny, Black soldiers fought bravely, forcing the integration of the armed forces and contributing to the Civil Rights Movement.
The Human Cost and Nuclear Threat. Anti-war movements gained significant momentum during the Vietnam War, with student activists like Tom Hayden and figures like Muhammad Ali challenging the government's narrative and the draft. The leaking of the Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg exposed government deception, while activists like Howard Morland protested the existential threat of nuclear weapons. These movements highlight the profound human cost of war and the ongoing need to question military aggression and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
6. Women's Autonomy: From Suffrage to Reproductive Rights
Fifty years her faithful hands have been compelled to ignoble servitude for the benefit of an Isaac Royall, untill, as if Nations must be agitated, and the world convulsed for the preservation of that freedom which the Almighty Father intended for all the human Race, the present war was Commenced.
Control Over Women's Bodies. For centuries, women's bodies and reproductive capabilities were weaponized to build empires, whether through forced breeding of enslaved African women or the expectation for White women to produce heirs. Early laws, like Virginia's 1662 act tying a child's status to the mother, cemented male control. Women like Margaret Brent, who demanded voting rights in 1648, and Elizabeth Key, who sued for her freedom, were early pioneers in challenging this patriarchal system.
The Fight for the Ballot. The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 launched the organized women's rights movement, demanding suffrage and other equalities. Despite internal divisions, particularly over race, and the opposition of figures like Booker T. Washington, suffragists like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett relentlessly campaigned. Their protests, including White House picketing and hunger strikes, culminated in the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
Beyond Suffrage: Body and Equality. The fight extended beyond the ballot to control over women's bodies and full equality. Margaret Sanger championed access to contraception against laws like the Comstock Act, while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed sex discrimination. The feminist movement, energized by figures like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem, protested objectification (Miss America Pageant) and demanded reproductive freedom, leading to Roe v. Wade in 1973. The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade underscores the ongoing, intergenerational struggle for women's autonomy and equal rights.
7. Confronting Police Violence: A Centuries-Old Battle for Justice
They kill Black people because they know they can get away with it.
Historical Impunity. The killing of people of color by law enforcement, vigilantes, and mobs has a long, unbroken history in the United States, dating back to colonial laws that permitted the murder of enslaved Africans with impunity. From slave patrols and bounty hunters to the Black Codes that criminalized Black life post-slavery, the system has consistently allowed those in power to inflict violence without accountability, fostering a culture of impunity.
Lynching and Legal Neglect. Lynching, an extrajudicial form of terror, became a widespread practice, often with the complicity of law enforcement and prosecutors who refused to intervene or prosecute perpetrators. The NAACP's first criminal case, defending Pink Franklin, a Black man sentenced to death for self-defense against a sheriff, highlighted this systemic injustice. The Silent Protest Parade of 1917 against lynching and the Supreme Court's intervention in U.S. v. Shipp, though rare, underscored the desperate need for protection.
Modern Manifestations and Resistance. Despite landmark rulings like Mapp v. Ohio, which limited illegal searches, and Tennessee v. Garner, which restricted deadly force, police violence against communities of color persists. Racial profiling, enabled by decisions like Terry v. Ohio, fuels ongoing tensions. Urban uprisings, from Watts to Ferguson and Baltimore, are often direct responses to police brutality and the lack of accountability. Movements like Black Lives Matter and figures like Colin Kaepernick continue to protest, demanding systemic reform and challenging the deeply entrenched tradition of racialized policing.
8. Environmental Justice: Protecting the Planet and Vulnerable Communities
The roots of war and violence go deep, into the earth herself. As an indigenous woman, I wish to simply state that until we make peace with earth, there will be no peace in the human community.
Early Warnings Ignored. Scientists have warned about climate change since the 19th century, with figures like Joseph Fourier, Eunice Newton Foote, and Svante Arrhenius identifying the greenhouse effect and the impact of carbon dioxide. Despite these early warnings, industrial expansion and corporate greed often overshadowed environmental concerns, leading to widespread pollution and the disproportionate targeting of marginalized communities for toxic waste sites, a phenomenon known as environmental racism.
The Rise of Environmental Activism. The modern environmental movement gained traction in the mid-20th century, spurred by figures like Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring exposed the dangers of toxic chemicals. Senator Gaylord Nelson's efforts, inspired by a massive oil spill, led to the first Earth Day in 1970, mobilizing millions and pushing for federal legislation like the Clean Air Act and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Global Challenges and Despair. Climate change has become a global crisis, with international agreements like the Paris Agreement seeking to address its devastating impacts. However, political reversals and climate denial continue to pose significant obstacles. The tragic self-immolations of activists like David Buckel and Wynn Bruce highlight the profound climate despair felt by some. Yet, the global climate strikes led by young activists like Greta Thunberg and the ongoing efforts of Indigenous leaders like Winona LaDuke demonstrate a resilient, intergenerational commitment to protecting the planet and advocating for environmental justice.
9. The Intergenerational Nature of Protest and the Power of Unity
Our Ancestors gave the shoulders upon which we stand; out of their blood, sweat, and tears, a place was created for us, without ever knowing our names or destinies.
A Continuous Struggle. Protest in the United States is not a series of isolated events but a continuous, intergenerational struggle, with each era building upon the sacrifices and lessons of the last. From the Indigenous peoples' enduring fight for sovereignty to the centuries-long battle for Black liberation, the labor movement's quest for dignity, and the multifaceted push for women's and LGBTQ+ rights, progress is rarely linear, often marked by two steps forward and one step back.
Unity Against Division. A recurring theme across all movements is the power of unity against "divide and conquer" tactics employed by oppressors. Bacon's Rebellion showed the potential of multiracial solidarity, while its suppression led to racial hierarchies designed to prevent such alliances. A. Philip Randolph's success in organizing Black Pullman porters and the collaboration between Mexican and Filipino farmworkers in the Delano Grape Strike exemplify how overcoming internal divisions strengthens the collective voice against powerful elites.
Diverse Strategies for Change. Effective protest utilizes a holistic, multi-strategy approach, combining street demonstrations, civil disobedience, legal challenges, lobbying, artistic expression, and public education. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and Angela Davis have demonstrated how strategic nonviolence, intellectual advocacy, and grassroots organizing can dismantle entrenched systems of injustice. The ongoing fight for environmental justice, uniting Indigenous wisdom with modern activism, further illustrates the necessity of diverse talents and unwavering commitment across generations.
10. Survival and Storytelling as Acts of Resistance
To live under siege and still thrive and find joy, despite the oppressive and unnatural conditions of this country, is an immeasurable victory.
The Personal is Political. The author's family history, from Eliza's defiance against her enslavers to her grandchildren's pursuit of education and civil rights, underscores that personal survival and the maintenance of cultural identity are profound acts of protest. In a nation built on stolen land and forced labor, simply existing, thriving, and finding joy in the face of systemic oppression is a testament to an indomitable spirit.
Keeping History Alive. Storytelling, writing, and remembering the struggles and sacrifices of ancestors and activists are crucial forms of resistance against historical revisionism and the erasure of marginalized voices. Mattie Bradshaw's essay about Eliza, the author's own commitment to writing about injustice, and the work of historians like John Hope Franklin ensure that the true, complex narrative of America's protest history is preserved and passed down.
Inspiring Future Generations. The legacy of protest provides a "historical tool kit" for future generations, offering wisdom, strategies, and inspiration to confront new obstacles. By understanding the tenacity of those who came before, individuals are empowered to channel their anger into positive action, envision a better future, and contribute to the ongoing work of making America a more perfect union. This intergenerational investment in freedom and justice ensures that the spirit of protest will always continue.
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