The Black Antifascist Tradition: Fighting Back from Anti-Lynching to Abolition

by Jeanelle K. Hope

The story of the fight against fascism across the African diaspora, revealing that Black antifascism has always been vital to global freedom struggles.

At once a history for understanding fascism and a handbook for organizing against, The Black Antifascist Tradition is an essential book for understanding our present moment and the challenges ahead.

From London to the Caribbean, from Ethiopia to Harlem, from Black Lives Matter to abolition, Black radicals and writers have long understood fascism as a threat to the survival of Black people around the world—and to everyone.

In The Black Antifascist Tradition , scholar-activists Jeanelle K. Hope and Bill Mullen show how generations of Black activists and intellectuals—from Ida B. Wells in the fight against lynching, to Angela Y. Davis in the fight against the prison-industrial complex—have stood within a tradition of Black Antifascism.

As Davis once observed, pointing to the importance of anti-Black racism in the development of facism as an ideology, Black people have been “the first and most deeply injured victims of fascism.” Indeed, the experience of living under and resisting racial capitalism has often made Black radicals aware of the potential for fascism to take hold long before others understood this danger.

The book explores the powerful ideas and activism of Paul Robeson, Mary McLeod Bethune, Claudia Jones, W. E. B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon, Aime Cesaire, and Walter Rodney, as well as that of the Civil Rights Congress, the Black Liberation Army, and the We Charge Genocide movement, among others.

In shining a light on fascism and anti-Blackness, Hope and Mullen argue, the writers and organizers featured in this book have also developed urgent tools and strategies for overcoming it.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Race, Activism, Ebooks, African American

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[JRT · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Antifascist Tradition provides a comprehensive and exhaustive analysis of the history of Black resistance to America’s many iterations of fascism. The book situates the United States as uniquely fascist—and in fact, the primary exporter of fascism around the globe—making clear that an empire founded and maintained by genocide, enslavement, and apartheid can only sustain itself through methods that have come to characterize the tenants of fascism. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the history of America’s social order.

[chase]

I really appreciate this book as a solid jumping-off point to learn more about the Abolitionist movement and its predecessors, especially given that it's addended with a syllabus and reading list. It would be a really great resource for a reading group, and I'd jump at the chance to discuss more of the many texts it mentions with others. That said, the writing style is very academic and especially dry toward the end... and I don't think it had to be that way! Many thanks to Haymarket for the free ebook :)

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read, not just because of the discomfort of the constant injustices forced onto Black people for all this time, but also because it is so jam-packed with knowledge, facts, dates, heroes and villains and a frustrating bit of history repeating itself. I read it in stops & starts, bits & pieces, tempering it with books that I read for pleasure to help me refresh & dive back into this difficult topic. I am glad I read this book, there’s no such thing as too much knowledge & research on how to fight against Fascism.

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really informative and also mentions other readings. I wish there was some more information on indigenous people, especially since other minority groups struggles are mentioned.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Pakeha Kiwi its a little difficult to work out how to review this book. Mostly it made me realize the unusual relationship of those outside the U.S. towards historical and civil rights issues. In general I would say that awareness very broadly is high, however a lot of that awareness comes from Hollywood and other fictional media - rather than formal history.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I don't have the experience or knowledge to really provide an informed review I'm just going to post my reactions to learning more about this topic!

While obviously closely related Hope's book isn't a summary or history for Black Americans, or Civil rights per se. As per the words on the tin, this book is specifically about Black efforts against fascism. Hope highlights the often overlooked treatment of African's by European fascists before WWII even began, and how U.S. advocates intervened at that time (to little interest from the wider U.S.A. whom in fact Hitler studied closely to learn better systemic racism)

A lot of the focus of this book revolves around WWII - a time when racial tensions were high, but also hypocrisy and mistreatment - Black soldiers were often shipped overseas to fight fascism and then came back to segregation and lynching.

Further traditions are explored throughout the eras, and something that struck me about media is that the maxim 'history is written by the victors' is somewhat true of how we talk about social movements. While there is much to celebrate within the pages of this book, its also a story about generations of struggle for a people mistreated - and it doesn't end on hopeful pages, describing the incoming US president and his history of enflaming rather than resolving racial tension.

So while I wouldn't necessarily recommend this one as an introductory piece - it has sparked a lot of interest in my brain for the topic. (although I will be deep divining into Aotearoa's history next)

[lovelifeandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

When people tell you “it’s not that deep.” There is a devastating and inspiring history present. When people tell you that your little post and protest don’t do anything. They are starting points, a reminder that an informed community stands together. And when Black folk point out that they have been telling the rest of us that they are the first victims of fascism. Listen and learn because it’s true. This book is dense but connects the dots and shows the work that has already been done.

[Shannon Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this historical run-through of the tradition, starting in the late 19th century and continuing through the early 2020s. The reading list is exquisite, and while there are some polemics contained in the book, they should be there. It shows how the social movements behind the tradition have upped their ask from incremental changes in regressive law to transformative, even revolutionary, justice models.

[Apollo Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

obviously since this book covers so many people and topics it’s impossible for it to go into major detail. but i loved this. it’s an amazing overview of the historical ties in the united states of racism and anti blackness. i especially love that the book comes with a reading list for further study once you’re done.

[William Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing history of the continual struggle by Black people against fascist regimes, from the US, to Germany, to to original slave trade. I learned quite a lot about US history I didn't know, as well as how much oppression is still going on. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to know more about how our current governing system can to be like it is.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously researched historiography of Black antifascism. Important contribution to political understandings of inextricability of colonialism, racism, and capitalism that lend to development of fascism.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in-depth history of Black revolutionaries fight against fascism, in the United States and around the world. A good reminder that our struggles at home are deeply connected to all struggles globally. This work is more relevant now, than maybe ever before.

[Galen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is one to return to again and again. it was difficult to read cover to cover because of the immense historical detail.