“History Teaches Us to Resist”

Abstract

Flipping through I Dream A World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America (1989), I first learned the name and glimpsed the unflinching stare of “Mary Frances Berry.”1 Little did I know that, some three years later in 1992, “Dr. Berry” would become my graduate school advisor in the History Department at the University of Pennsylvania.2 Since then, Dr. Berry has been not only a “scholar-activist” model to me but also an academic mentor.This conversation has been in the works, you might say, for a while. I was invited by Michael Ezra, the editor of the Journal of Civil and Human Rights, to conduct an interview with Dr. Berry after the publication of her book History Teaches Us to Resist.3 I accepted that invitation, relishing the opportunity to hear her discuss her newest book in greater depth. Somehow, time slipped away, again and again. In other words, life happened. Then, at the end of 2020, the right causes and conditions aligned, and I reached out to Mike Ezra and Dr. Berry to let them know I'd still like to do the interview. After all, The Reality is this: learning what history teaches us about resisting injustice and oppression is always a relevant and timely matter.When Dr. Berry and I decided on a date to chat, the “Capitol Insurrection” had not yet happened on January 6, 2021.4 But its occurrence two days before our conversation—alongside the increase in hate crimes, ongoing police killings of Black people, voter suppression laws, and many other injustices and systemic inequalities in the United States and globally—provided ample evidence of The Reality. Echo, echo: Learning what history teaches us about resisting injustice and oppression is always a relevant and timely matter.Our conversation, on January 8, 2021, was edited for clarity and length, and broaches a wide range of subjects. We explore the book's “resistance” offerings by discussing specific progressive movements, relevant historical examples, and the importance of protest then and now. This conversation also chronicles, in a modest way, the scholarly contributions, civic life, and social activism of Mary Frances Berry, who participated in some of the movements that she recounts. Finally, we talk about insights to be gained for these times. In particular, Dr. Berry reflects on lessons for social activists now; what makes an effective resistance struggle; the role and power of women; the most pressing issues that demand our collective voice; and the role of self-care and joy in sustaining struggle.Rhonda Y. Williams▪ ▪ ▪