Kellie Carter Jackson

In this engaging conversation, Kelly Carter Jackson, Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College and author of "We Refuse," explores the idea that joy can be a powerful form of resistance. She discusses how finding happiness amidst adversity is vital for resilience and community celebration. Highlighting the historical significance of joy, especially among enslaved women, she presents it as both a coping mechanism and a transformative tool for liberation. The dialogue also reflects on the balance between joy and justice, underscoring the need for rest in activism.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson, Chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, and Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician and NPR columnist, tackle the complexities of obesity and diet culture. They explore how Oprah Winfrey's weight narrative shapes societal attitudes towards thinness as a status symbol. The conversation dives into the benefits of GLP-1 medications but highlights persistent fatphobia. They argue for a more nuanced understanding of health that prioritizes individual experiences over societal pressures.

Kellie Carter Jackson, Africana Studies chair at Wellesley College, recalls compassionate, community-rooted organizing. Marcus Lee, Princeton assistant professor of African American studies, analyzes Black political leadership and shifting archetypes. They discuss the decline of charismatic savior figures, the rise of networks and local civic action, and new queer and female leadership reshaping movements.

Kellie Carter Jackson, a historian and author specializing in Black radicalism, discusses her book, which reframes the narrative of Black resistance against white supremacy. She shares her great-grandmother's story to highlight the theme of refusal. Kellie contrasts the Haitian and American revolutions, emphasizing the systemic need for abolition. She presents local acts of resistance, like the Lancaster Black Self-Protection Society, and argues that joy, through dance and laughter, serves as a vital form of resistance against oppression.

Kellie Carter Jackson, chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley and historian of slavery and resistance, explores William Parker’s defiant network against slave catchers. Short scenes cover daring rescues, the violent Christiana confrontation, the Fugitive Slave Act’s reach, and Parker’s flight to Canada. Tense, vivid, and packed with resistance and risk.