"Keisha N. Blain has written a necessary and bracing history of Black womens critical role over the past two centuries in defining the concept of human rights. Moving beyond the focus on diplomats and famous philosophers, Without Fear highlights the words and actions of the most marginalized women in society, whose insistence on the natural, universal, and equal rights of all human beings have made them an inspiring example to the world." -- Annette Gordon-Reed, author of On Juneteenth "In Without Fear, distinguished historian Keisha N. Blain takes us on epic journey through time as she shines a light on the too often overlooked generations of Black American women, who, from the ground up, advanced the cause of human rights at home and abroad. This is an important, and accessible work that helps to fill in a major void in our shared historical narrative. Its also an inspiring study of how Black women have continuously carried the torch of justice and made the cause of human rights their own for the uplift of all." -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr., author of The Black Box "Every page of Without Fear highlights Keisha N. Blains research prowess. She powerfully weaves together stories from both history and the present to paint a moving portrait of what is true: Black women have always beenand remainat the forefront of the struggle for freedom. A must-read for anyone who truly wants to understand America, and the world at large." -- Sharon McMahon, best-selling author of The Small and the Mighty and creator of Sharon Says So "Keisha N. Blain has written an elegant and insightful history of Black female civil rights activists who helped to build the movement for human rights from the bottom up. Rather than telling a conventional tale of intellectuals, diplomacy, and high politics, Blain uncovers a long line of marginalized citizens who forced the world to reckon with basic questions about global justice based on their own struggles with racial discrimination. Without Fear provides a fresh perspective on the ongoing effort to protect the safety and dignity of individuals everywhere around the globe." -- Julian E. Zelizer, author of Burning Down the House "In this engaging and important study, Keisha N. Blain reveals little known dimensions of Black women activists we already know and introduces us to others who are overlooked in our standard histories. As she aptly shows, their fight against fascism and colonialism abroad as well as discriminations of race and gender at home is evidence that the breadth of Black womens activism is as wide as the world itself." -- Paula J. Giddings, author of IDA: A Sword Among Lions, Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching "Without Fear tells the stories of Black women who, like Deborah in the Bible, have engaged in social justice agitation, refusing to simply suffer by engaging in the redemptive work of challenging injustice while in the midst of it. Each of us can and must learn from them if we are to reconstruct America and build a just world." -- Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, author of White Poverty
