Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists by Mikki Kendall and A. d’Amico

Worth A Read ABSOLUTELY
Length 208
Quick Review A fun and educational graphic history of women existing in the world. It’s empowering and honest. I absolutely LOVED this one. 

I have always had a thing for historical women. My entire childhood and adolescence was spent searching for the women in history who did more than marry and have babies – there is nothing wrong with either/both of those things. I wanted to see women in power, women creating history, women doing the things only men were allowed to do. My love of history and research was born 21 years ago when I found Queen Elizabeth I because she inspired me to reach for more. I wish Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists by Mikki Kendall and A. d’Amico had existed for childhood me because I would have loved it. It’s a compilation of women throughout history and across cultures, documenting the struggles and successes they faced.

There is so much to talk about in this graphic history, but I’ll keep to the highlights.  

The narrative is set up in a really interesting way. I don’t know what other graphic novels/histories look like, so my perception of how the narrative looks in comparison to others might be completely off. There’s a class of girls (middle or high school) at school, and their teacher is AI. The girls are all different colors and cultures. The teacher takes them through women’s history starting in Sumer 3000 BCE and leads them through history around the world, recounting stories of remarkable women and cultural norms. Throughout the book, the girls ask questions, make statements, and share opinions. Sometimes there are comments marked by prejudice, which allow the girls to confront those [ill founded] opinions and resolve them. It’s such a powerful way of depicting the multitude of ways women can oppress and harm one another due to differences in education, culture, religion, race, and more. The teacher often answers the questions or tells them to wait for the answer because it will come. 

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists is filled with fabulous quotes. So often they are marked with emotion, like exasperation, “So Roman rule came with the “gift” of patriarchy. Great.” Or the fact women might not have had as much limelight, rights, power, or many other things, there is the moment when their historical power was acknowledged, “There is never a moment in history in any culture where women weren’t a major force.”

History has almost always been told by, interpreted by, seen through the eyes of men. Women have been systemically oppressed for millennia on the basis of religion, thought, and philosophy, all which were dominated by men. The book points out how manuscripts were often altered or interpreted differently throughout history, which had an impact on women’s lives, and are still echoed in today’s cultures and treatments of women. Men used their power to keep their power, “Before Irene, no woman had ruled any part of the Holy Roman Empire alone. The pope counted her throne as empty and crowned Charlemagne.”

No topic is off limits. With ferocity and fearlessness Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists tackle sex, religion, slavery, education, and everything in between. The authors aren’t afraid to destroy preconceived notions instilled in us by our education systems. Abolitionists weren’t all great. They wanted the vote for women, white women. Susan B. Anthony was against black women having the right to vote. Feminism also comes under focus, especially in regards to gender, sexuality, and race. Feminism has historically only been open to white women. Black women and other women of color were excluded. I love the very intersectional approach to history and feminism. One of my favorite quotes and a motto (in various words) I have been living by for over a decade: “There’s nothing feminist about excluding people.” 

Kendall and d’Amico sum up women’s history and rights in the quote, “The history of women’s rights isn’t linear. It’s complicated and different cultures had different norms.” Time may be linear, but our history, our rights, our existence has not been linear. We often took large steps forward just to be pushed back. 

This graphic history is fun and colorful and educational, but it is a sweeping history of women around the world and the devastation they have faced throughout human existence. As a woman, I suggest it to everyone. It’s feminist and beautifully done, but it approaches really hard topics with kindness. I can’t help but love this book. It’s an amazing place to start for girls wanting to know about their history. I wish I had had this as a young girl, but I have it now!  

Fun Fact The world’s oldest continually operating educational institution is still open was founded by a woman in Fez, Morocco. (The University of Al Quaraouiyine) I hope to visit it one day. 

Memorable Quotes
“Welcome to the history you clearly never learned.”
“Sometimes rulers meant ‘over my dead body’s literally.”
“Your world is as big as you make it.” Georgia Douglas Johnson
“As always, women led the way in America and abroad.”
“You know that women are always looked upon as nothing; but we are your mothers; you are our sons.”

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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Title: Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists
Author: Mikki Kendall and A. d’Amico
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9780399581793