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Even before they were recognized as citizens of the United States, Black women understood that the fights for civil and human rights were inseparable. Over the course of two hundred years, they were at the forefront of national and international movements for social change, weaving connections between their own and others’ freedom struggles
Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights
September 16, 2025
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
author of The Black Box
"In Without Fear, distinguished historian Keisha Blain takes us on an 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."
Sharon McMahon, best-selling author of The Small and
the Mighty and creator of Sharon Says So
"Every page of Without Fear highlights Keisha N. Blain’s 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 been—and remain—at the forefront of the struggle for freedom. A must-read for anyone who truly wants to understand America, and the world at large."
Beverly Gage, author of Pulitzer Prize winning G-Man:
J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century
"Without Fear describes how multiple generations of Black women fought for human rights and civil rights together. The characters in this book were not only righteous warriors but savvy strategists. If everyone today were as thoughtful—and as brave--as the historical figures Blain brings to life in this book, we would be living in a different country and a different world."
Ibram X. Kendi, author of Stamped from the Beginning:
The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
"Keisha Blain positions the most dehumanized members of society at the pioneering center of the global struggle for human rights. Brave Black women, well-known and lesser known, building on each other generation after generation. Rigorously researched and beautifully told, Without Fear could not be more moving and inspiring."
Annette Gordon-Reed, author of
On Juneteenth
"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."
What readers are saying about Without Fear ...
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State Department Operations Center
"Your excellent lecture provided valuable historical context to our discussion and has received praise from our colleagues and leadership throughout the Department. We are deeply grateful for your time in preparing the presentation on short notice and for your phenomenal insights. It was an honor to learn from you."
"Deeply grateful for your time!"
GLOUCESTER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM, NEW JERSEY
"I was actually moved to tears"
"The discussion was nothing short of amazing. I cannot express enough, how moved I was by last night's program. I was actually moved to tears about some of the things she said. I truly believe that Dr. Blain's answers to our various questions has helped to create not only awareness in myself, but hopefully awareness and potential change in the others who attended the event."
BROOKS SCHOOL
"She hit it right out of the park!"
"Dr. Keisha N. Blain virtually delivered an MLK Day keynote address for our school community, followed by a Q & A session, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students and adults alike have commented how they appreciated Dr. Blain's articulate and straight-to-the-point manner of answering the questions. As one colleague put it, 'She hit it right out of the park!'"
RISEQUITY
"Powerful, insightful and moving"
"We want to extend many thanks to Dr. Blain for her fireside conversation as it was powerful, insightful and moving. The feedback during and post-program from the executives and all the attendees is that it was an honor to hear Dr. Blain's perspectives, optimism and historical context. A "phenomenal conversation" and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to hear from someone taking action to create systemic change from a historical lens."
