Books, NonFiction

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. 

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Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists by Mikki Kendall and A. d’Amico is amazing. | Dress | Red Heels | Purse | Watch | Necklace | Earrings | Red Lipstick

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

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Books

The Water-Babies

Read Yes
Length 198
Overview A Victorian children’s classic addressing themes and issues reaching far beyond a basic children’s fairy tale.

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I read The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley in a Victorian Lit. class in college. I really loved it, but I was confused at how it could possibly be a children’s fairy tale. Yes, it’s engaging and interesting and full of wonder, but it has really deep meanings, which cannot be ignored partially because they’re constantly smacking you in the face.

Basics of the story: Tom is a poor chimney sweep, who has no knowledge of God or cleanliness or any type of kindness. Through a small bout of craziness and an old Irish lady, Tom runs away from his hyper abusive master. He ends up being turned into a water-baby, which is the water equivalent of a land-baby. There are other water-babies, fairies, and characters with names like Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid. How can you not love it?

Like many Victorian novels, it is, at its core, a truly moral fable. There is a stark moral code set out within the novel – Charles Kingsley was an Anglican minister. One thing that I was absolutely taken with in college was the fact it is such a female centric novel. The women are good, strong, honest, and resilient and the men are fools, abusive, or a combination thereof.

There are so many layers and lenses in which The Water-Babies can be read. Kingsley’s opinions are pretty evident throughout for the good and the bad. He did not support child labor, and it can be read as a satire. Throughout the story science is evident. Darwin is mentioned kindly on several occasions. Other scientific topics are pollution, method, geology, education, and biological debates prevalent at the time. Kingsley heavily criticizes close-minded approaches to life and knowledge.   

One of my favorite things about the narration, is how the narrator speaks directly to the reader. This isn’t unusual, especially at the time, but the way he does it is not terribly common. There are full on discussions, where the reader is answering questions posed by you, the reader. It is highly amusing as it can go on for several pages.

Anyways, The Water-Babies is a fun little novel. You can read it for a fun, light read, or you can deeply read it. I’m not a science person, so I would love to hear your sciency takes on it!

Memorable Quotes
The most wonderful and the strongest things in the world, you know, are just the things which no one can see.”
“Do as you would be done by.”
“…children always wake after they have slept exactly as long as is good for them…”

Title: The Water-Babies; A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby
Author: Charles Kingsley
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9780143105091