And Beyond: Dr. Keisha N. Blain on the Fight to Preserve Black Women’s Legacy
One of the nation’s most acclaimed scholars discusses how we’ve always resisted erasure — and why now is the time to reclaim the truth we were never meant to know.
In the heart of the Mississippi Delta, where red clay roads carry generations of resistance, a Black woman once declared that nobody was free until everybody was free.
That was Fannie Lou Hamer, and though her words shook the nation, her full story, like that of many Black women, is still rarely told.
Such erasure is by no accident. Across the South and beyond, Black women have long been the backbone of justice movements, yet the least remembered in the telling of history. As new political fights rage over curriculum bans, book censorship, and the rewriting of America’s racial past, the voices of Black women are being pushed to the margins—again.
Dr. Keisha N. Blain, a historian at Brown University and one of the nation’s foremost scholars in the field, says the danger isn’t just what’s removed from our textbooks—but what’s lost in our national memory.
“Mainstream historical narratives reflect the kind of society in which we live,” she says. “In the U.S., these narratives are often male-dominated, and they often deemphasize the contributions of people of color—especially Black people. Black women are often overshadowed or excluded entirely.”
Legacy Carriers in a Time of Erasure
Dr. Blain’s body of work speaks directly to this issue, particularly through her writing on Fannie Lou Hamer, the Mississippi-born sharecropper-turned-human rights activist who stood boldly before the Democratic National Convention in 1964 and challenged the nation to confront its racism. But for Dr. Blain, Hamer’s legacy is not just historical—it’s a mirror to the present.
“One of the most challenging aspects about writing a book on Fannie Lou Hamer is having to acknowledge that the social issues she confronted in her lifetime remain with us,” she says. “Despite the gains—civil rights legislation, voter protections—the problems persist.”
In today’s South, where new voting restrictions are emerging and education policy is under siege, Blain sees familiar patterns. But she also sees hope.
“What I find especially encouraging is that activists today are building on Hamer’s dynamic work,” she says. “They’re organizing from the ground up, empowering everyday people. Like Hamer, they’re resisting the notion that leaders should only come from a particular social class or have a certain educational background. They’re making room for anyone committed to social justice.”
That sense of inheritance—of lessons passed down, often through oral histories, kitchen-table conversations, and community halls—is central to how Black women’s resistance has always worked. And yet, far too often, those women—our women—are only given the mic for a few months out of the year.
“I always tell people: I’m available to talk about my research all year,” Blain says. “Educators must come up with ways to shine the light on this history — and they cannot rely on the traditional classroom setting alone.”
The South Remembers Even When Resistance is Softened
In the battleground over historical memory, Dr. Blain is especially attuned to how Black historical figures are being repackaged—especially by politicians looking to soften their legacies. Rosa Parks has been rendered docile. We say we remember Fannie Lou Hamer, but few dare to echo her rage. And now, even Harriet Tubman—the Black woman who led armed raids, liberated hundreds, and lived in defiance of slavery—was nearly erased from a federal site.
And beyond, so many more Southern Black women—Ida B. Wells, Septima Clark, Ella Baker, Daisy Bates, Claudette Colvin, Jo Ann Robinson—who organized boycotts, exposed racial terror, built schools, and refused to bow quietly to injustice—have seen their legacies minimized, softened, or overshadowed altogether.
“It’s impossible to stop politicians from misusing historical figures for their own purposes,” Blain admits. “But we can respond by educating others. When someone doesn’t know much about Rosa Parks, I see it as an opportunity to help others expand their knowledge on the subject.”
And at a time when Black-authored or centered books are being pulled from school shelves, Blain argues that it’s essential to remember that Black history has never lived solely in libraries or classrooms.
“Political leaders can ban books, but they can’t ban ideas,” she adds. “We’ve always found ways to pass knowledge through storytelling, through tradition. The classroom doesn’t have to be four walls—it’s anyone who wants to learn.”
The Truth We Were Never Meant to Know
In her forthcoming book, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights, Blain turns her focus to the global stage—unearthing how Black women have long been central to shaping the language and framework of human rights itself.
“When people think about human rights, they often think about European philosophers or the U.N.,” she says. “Rarely do they think of Black women—yet they’ve left an indelible mark on this nation and the world.”
While researching the book, she discovered story after story of Black women whose ideas and activism reshaped global politics—women whose names never made it into textbooks but who shaped generations.
“It was humbling and enlightening,” she reflects. “There’s still so much to learn. And that, to me, is the most striking thing—that after all this time, Black women’s contributions are still being uncovered, still expanding our understanding of history.”
A Call to Preserve—And Pass On—Our Legacy
I asked Dr. Blain what she would say to the women who are doing the work now—educators, mothers, organizers, journalists, and caretakers—many of whom may be tired, discouraged, or unsure if what they’re doing matters.
Her answer was both powerful and rooted: “Work within your spheres of influence,” she said. “You don’t need thousands of followers or a prestigious grant. We all have some kind of reach, no matter how small it might be.”
And in true Southern fashion, she closed with the gospel of Fannie Lou Hamer:
“You can pray until you faint, but if you don’t get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.”
That’s the legacy. And we’re all responsible for carrying it forward.
Dr. Keisha N. Blain is a professor of Africana studies and history at Brown University. She is a Guggenheim, Carnegie, and New America Fellow, and the author of several acclaimed books, including Until I Am Free and Wake Up America. Her forthcoming book, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights, will be released on September 16th, 2025, by W.W. Norton & Company.
🛒 Pre-order here: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393882308
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights and feedback, and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please feel free to contact me at editor@13thandsouth.com and follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.