In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School  uncovers the untold stories of individuals who risked their lives to fight enslavement, serving as a compelling call for justice and the preservation of history.

This book brings to light the often-suppressed stories of those  who risked everything to end enslavement. Profiling 20 Black and white men and women, the book highlights their courage, activism, and unwavering commitment to freedom. Through vivid vignettes, including their own words, their struggles and sacrifices come to life.

Amid ongoing efforts to erase history, these stories serve as a powerful corrective—meant to challenge, inspire, and ignite action. Co-authored by Tom Weiner, a Northampton-based writer, educator, and anti-racist activist, and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, professor and former president of the National Council for Black Studies, the book weaves their perspectives into the narrative, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.

For fans of The New Jim Crow  by Michelle Alexander and The Color of Abolition by Linda Hirshman, In Defiance is both a testament to those who fought for justice and an inspiration for those who continue the struggle today.

Why the butterfly? When the chapter featuring Sarah Mapps Douglass was being written, a photograph of a woman we thought was her was included in an illuminating article about her by Herb Boyd, author, journalist for Harlem’s Amsterdam News and former professor of Black Studies at the City College of New York and the College of New Rochelle. Mr. Boyd also wrote a supporting comment for our book. 

Further research by our intrepid photograph authenticator, Auden Cote-L’Heureux, into the provenance of the photo revealed that it actually was of a different abolitionist! A deeper dive failed to produce an actual photograph of her. What was uncovered was the fact that she was the first Black woman to have one of her paintings published in a book, which is why, with no photo available, we made the choice to include one of her paintings on the cover of IN DEFIANCE. In addition her painted images, which she included on letters she wrote, are likely the first and/or earliest surviving examples of signed paintings by a Black woman.