Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights examines the ongoing struggle for women’s rights that has spanned human history and touched nearly every culture on Earth. So many issues fall under this umbrella of rights including the right to vote, work, get an education, own property, exercise bodily autonomy, and so much more. This graphic novel acts as a primer to key figures and events that have advanced women’s rights into the modern era. Both beautifully illustrated and well researched this book is the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in history or looking for a captivating read.
The way the book is established readers are presented a class studying women’s history, which is being presented by a sort of digital teacher. This figure allows them to move throughout history and actually see what took place during certain events. These include traveling into ancient history where women could own property and while education was not available for them, they could still be powerful people. Mikki Kendall and A. D’Amico make sure to include not just the well known figures that often appear in world history courses like Susan B. Anthony or Florence Nightingale (though these women do appear), but also names that have not appeared in typically histories like Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, two sisters who ruled Vietnam after leading a revolt against the Han Dynasty, Mary Burnett Talbert, a founder of the Niagara Movement, which was an early Black Civil Rights organization.
What I also loved about this book, beyond the inclusion of often not included women, but that there is a discussion of LGBTQ+ issues as well as inclusive and other elements of feminism that are important today for the continued advancement of equality. This is a powerful book that is not only visually stunning, A. D’Amico has done an impressive job of bringing this history to life, but is also so full of information that it will keep you hooked. I was constantly in awe of the people being presented and I could read this book multiple times. Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists is something that will resonate with many people and is a read that you need to sit down with regardless of identity if you are interested in making the world a more liberated place in the future. You can get your copy today.