A Protest History of the United States

by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall

Exploring 400 years of protest and resistance in US history—and what the unsung heroes of social movements past can teach us about navigating our chaotic world

In this timely new book in Beacon’s successful ReVisioning History series, law professor Gloria Browne-Marshall delves into the history of protest movements and rebellion in the United States. Beginning with indigenous peoples’ resistance to European colonization and continuing through to today’s climate change demonstrations, Browne-Marshall expands how to think about protest through sharing select historical moments and revealing the role of key players involved in those efforts.

Drawing upon legal documents, archival material, government documents and secondary sources, A Protest History of the United States gives voice to those who pushed back against the mistreatment of others, themselves, and in some instances planet Earth. Browne-Marshall highlights stories of individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and time periods who helped bring strong attention to their causes. Those stories include those of Wahunsenacock, more commonly known to history as Chief Powhatan, who took on English invaders in pre-colonial America in 1607; legendary boxer Muhammad Ali who refused to be inducted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam era and appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court; and David Buckel, LGBTQ+ rights lawyer and environmental activist who protested against fossil fuels by committing self-immolation in 2018.

Regardless of whether these protests accomplished their end goals, Browne-Marshall reminds us that not only is dissent meaningful and impactful but is an essential tool for eliciting long lasting change.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Social Justice, Audiobook, Activism

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2025

Reviews

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid primer on the history of protest (and the various forms of protest) in the United States.

While I do wish that Browne-Marshall had spent more time on climate justice (it's crammed in at the end), I understand why she prioritized what she did, as the entire basis of civil rights in the United States rests upon the treatment and equity afforded to its Black citizens. As Browne-Marshall points out (not in these words): slavery might have ended over 150 years ago, but its evil tendrils stretch out and strangle us all even today.

Anywho, a good starting point (for people already somewhat read in US history), filled with recommendations for further reading.

[Sarah Jensen]

Book Review: A Protest History of the United States by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
Introduction

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall’s A Protest History of the United States presents a comprehensive examination of the various movements and acts of dissent that have shaped American society throughout its history. This work serves not only as a chronological narrative of protest but also as an analysis of the political, social, and cultural contexts that have fueled these movements. Browne-Marshall, a legal scholar and civil rights advocate, employs a multifaceted approach to highlight the significance of protests in influencing change and shaping the nation’s identity.

Content Overview

The book is organized thematically, covering a broad spectrum of protest movements, including civil rights, women’s suffrage, labor rights, and anti-war demonstrations. Each chapter provides detailed accounts of significant events, key figures, and the socio-political climate surrounding these protests. Browne-Marshall meticulously traces the evolution of dissent from early colonial times through contemporary movements, emphasizing that protests have always been a vital expression of civic engagement.

Browne-Marshall’s analysis extends beyond the events themselves; she explores the motivations behind protests, the strategies employed by activists, and the responses from governmental and institutional powers. The author effectively illustrates how grassroots efforts have historically challenged systemic injustices and contributed to the advancement of civil liberties.

Critical Analysis

One of the significant strengths of A Protest History of the United States is its inclusive portrayal of diverse movements and voices. Browne-Marshall emphasizes the contributions of marginalized groups, including people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, thereby broadening the traditional narrative surrounding American history. This intersectional approach highlights the interconnectedness of various struggles and reinforces the idea that protests are not isolated events but part of a larger continuum of social justice efforts.

Browne-Marshall’s writing is both accessible and engaging, aiming to reach a wide audience, including academics, students, and general readers interested in American history and social movements. The inclusion of primary sources, such as speeches, letters, and personal narratives, enriches the text and provides readers with a deeper understanding of the experiences and emotions of those involved in protests.

However, while the book offers a thorough analysis of numerous movements, some readers may find that the breadth of content occasionally sacrifices depth in certain areas. Certain pivotal events and figures could benefit from more extensive exploration, particular in terms of their long-term impact on society. Nevertheless, Browne-Marshall’s adept storytelling and analytical skills largely compensate for these limitations.

Conclusion

A Protest History of the United States by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an essential contribution to the field of American history and social justice studies. By chronicling the rich tapestry of protest movements and highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and justice, Browne-Marshall effectively underscores the importance of dissent as a catalyst for change. The book serves as both a historical reference and a source of inspiration for future activists, reminding readers of the power of collective action in the pursuit of a more just society.

Recommendation

This book is highly recommended for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the role of protest in shaping American history. It is particularly valuable for those studying social movements, civil rights, and political activism. Browne-Marshall’s engaging narrative and thoughtful insights make this a vital resource for understanding the complexities of dissent and the ongoing fight for justice in the United States.

[Siena Beattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted this to be a little more of a guide to what effective vs. ineffective protest looks like but, as advertised, it is exclusively a historical recounting of protests throughout the existence of the US. Some of it I had already learned and some things that our old history books had clearly and purposefully left out.

[Kira Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only we as a country would learn from our history.

[Ayla Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[Henry Wilhelm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't recommend this book

A Resistance History of the United States would be a more accurate title, but I assume "protest" was chosen instead to be closer to a People's History of the United States. That's probably a good marketing decision, but it forces Gloria Browne-Marshall to redefine the word "protest" in her book. That needlessly adds to the cognitive load when reading the book, but that alone wouldn't be enough for me to say "don't bother reading this."

The bigger problem here is the formatting. Instead of going in chronological order, covering the evolution of and relationships between the different protest groups in the US, a decision was made to cover the history of each movement in seperate chapters. It's not possible to seperate out the history of resistance like that and have it make sense. There are references to different movements in each chapter, and a couple people show up in multiple chapters (notably Bayard Rustin is in three chapters), but this decision led to things like Dr. King being in the Anti-War and Urban Uprisings (we'll get back to that) chapters and not the Africa Americans chapter. Similarly, Gloria Davis is talked about in the Women's Rights section, but not in the African American chapter or the Police Brutality chapter.

This formatting leads to each chapter feeling like a self-contained essay on the history of a resistance movement, instead of a cohesive book. Each chapter starts hundreds of years ago, talks about various actions and their backlashes, and ends with a conclusion and message of hope for the future. It gets very repetitive. Adding to the feeling of this being a collection of essays rather than a single book is Gloria's handling of Bayard Rustin. In one chapter she's telling us he was kicked out of Quakerism and in the next she's noting parenthetically that he's a Quaker. Which is it? I know the answer because I'm a Quaker, but I'd imagine the average reader of this book doesn't!

Finally, there are the topics picked for the chapters. If we're going to use this formatting, we'll at least use reasonable topics, right? Wrong! The chapter themes are as follows: Native American Resistance, African American Resistance, the Labor Movement, the Anti-War Movement, 20th Century Rebellions, Police Brutality, Women's Rights, the Environment Movement. Notice anything important missing? The LGBTQ Rights Movement gets mentioned briefly in the Police Brutality chapter, but only Stonewall and Gloria calls the pride march following it the first lgbtq march. No it wasn't! It was the progenitor of the pride marches we have today, but that's not the same thing. Also in the Police Brutality chapter, we get a mention of Harvey Milk... but not his relationship to the LGBTQ movement. Bayard Rustin being gay is mentioned in relation to Dr. King's decision to kick him out of his orbit, and no further gay rights point is made. The omission of the LGBTQ Rights Movement, but the inclusion of a seperate chapter for 20th Century Rebellions is absurd, and the framing of the LGBTQ Rights Movement as secondary to other movements, even if unintentionally, is damaging.

Also damaging is the complete ommission of Socialism from the Labor Movement chapter (except to mention that a particular union was called communist, but wasn't). If the goal of this book is to give the reader a broad understanding of different movements, you have to talk about socialism and labor. You don't have unions without socialism. You don't have the New Deal without socialism. Labor unions are targeted as Communist because many of them had their origins in socialism (if not communism).

This book is poorly eddited, baflingly constructed, and requires the reader to have a fairly robust understanding of different resistance movements in US history and their big players to follow along. Did I learn anything from this book? Some, but the biggest thing I got out of it was a list of better nonfiction books to read after this one. This book is not worth your time.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading in high school history classes.

[Amy K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine introduction to protest movements for the uninitiated. I went into this looking for more of a what works / what doesn't work and that's not covered here.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling premise but is really more about resistance than broadly about protest, sacrifices deep historical research for sake of presentist-centric drama

[K— H.]

A quick survey of different instances of protestation in the US from the Powhatan 1607 to 2022 inserted between short memoir and interview pieces.

There are takeaways on protesting, but they are often buried in the text. Most sections listed a book for more in-depth reading, which I found useful. I think this was written to a more mainstream audience than I, but there were still some interesting tidbits.

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a book for the moment. An excellent overview.

[Anna Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this should be required reading 🤍

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of United States history, with a focus on protest and resistance (the author does not distinguish much between the two). Covering territory both familiar and new (to me) this was a meandering, cyclical tour through history with a focus on protest movements.

I wish she had talked more about her family, or what makes a successful protest, or the way that different kinds of protest really work together to create change. The narrative felt overstuffed with facts and light on either thesis or cohesive narrative. She mentions how nonviolent protest is statistically more effective, and briefly notes the community-building effects of resistance as well as the need for the hope that protests can provide. But these observations are cursory and I found that they got lost in the waves of info-dump.

“This United States of America has maintained a dual personality, writing of freedom in a Declaration of Independence with one hand, lashing the backs of enslaved people with the other, and all while on stolen Indigenous land. These deep and abiding contradictions have marked the country‘s laws and traditions, which offer the hope of inclusion and opportunity if one only works hard enough."

Much is made in the introduction of this dual nature of the U.S. Our country is exceptional, but not in its promise of freedom; rather in its simultaneous harshness in our restrictions of that freedom. Like Alice in Wonderland when she steps through the Looking Glass.
 
In chapter one, we sit with Indigenous resistance and protest. The author talks about what the word “protest” means and how it can encompass so many methods. She also offers up additional resources to explore for more complete context. She is very up front about wanting to talk about “protest” as an all-encompassing term. She reaches back to some of the earliest European invasions in America to examine how Indigenous populations resisted these incursions on their land. Diplomacy and war, patience and assimilation, legal challenges were all forms of Indigenous resistance.

Framing the French and Indian war as the first World War, and examining the words we use to describe English “wars” versus indigenous “massacres“ makes it very clear to see how language shapes our understanding of history. She continues to hammer that point home with extraordinarily pointed word choices.

The indigenous protest chapter provides some great examples of resisting stereotypes—specifically the one where Indigenous groups can’t be trusted with alcohol—and pushing back against the narrow narratives of those who would like to squash Native Americans out of existence. And how small groups can’t push back together.

“It’s amazing when you understand how no movement, no community, stands alone. We are all having an impact on one another.” -Judith LeBlanc, Caddo Nation

It’s clear the author is trying to portray protest more realistically than idealistically. Both by including such a range of protest, but also by explicitly acknowledging, “Protest rarely provides an immediate, direct line to victory, but it is effective nonetheless, especially when obstacles are historical and multilayered.” (47)

The discussion of research and collections brings to mind the story in Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angelia Boulley. And in her conclusion to this chapter Browne-Marshall writes: “Stolen land and kidnapped people made the United States of America.” And she goes on to observe that subsequent revolts and freedom fighting helped to make us more free and just as a nation. And it makes me marvel at those who resist learning more complex and nuanced U.S. History — there are so many more heroes learn about, who exemplify our purported national values, if we widen our lens a little.

Chapter two begins with slavery, specifically with an enslaved girl who was an ancestor of the author. It’s hard to describe a slave-based system, especially one saturated with self-righteous religion. Words like moral, sin, and wickedness live along words like legal and injustice and it makes for some incredibly uncomfortable reading.

She hits on Bacon’s Rebellion which is always a good reminder that it is imperative to find common cause against those who would seek to divide and conquer. And as recent history has made evident, the inability to see clearly who is actively trying to put small groups against each other can be devastating. Educating oneself is a form of protest against those who would keep you ignorant. She connects further to contemporary issues when she says about the enslavers and politicians who upheld a slave system: “It was a reality they wished to ignore for the sake of profits.” Profits, and the unmitigated pursuit of them, have a lot to answer for in our history.

Parts of this chapter are quite gruesome.

This episode of protest runs through the Plessy v. Ferguson case that established segregation as the law of the land, but not before reminding the reader of the power of Supreme Court dissents, and coming back around to the power of family history.

Chapter three tackles Labor protests, beginning with the authors family and launching the main text from the Gilded Age. At one point she describes the America of the Industrial Revolution as “…a gilded cage of unsafe conditions, meager wages, and violence.”

She dives into anti-Asian policies, specifically the Chinese Exclusion Acts, after which Chinese immigrants protested via lawsuits, among other methods. She follows this with the Pullman Strikes, then Mother Jones and the coal miners, and Clarence Darrow as a fiery union and labor attorney. Throughout the labor protest discussion, the added challenges of racial prejudice linger alongside the contempt that the wealthy have for the workers who make them so.

The cycle of tragedy, protest, tragedy, protest, incremental progress, then back to the beginning is excruciating.

In the midst of labor protests, she squeezes in a reference to the Tulsa Massacre in 1921 (which created an atmosphere of fear amongst striking miners later that year) and a note about John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. But I can’t see a reference to Steinbeck anymore without also thinking of Sanora Babb’s Whose Names Are Unknown.

Included in the labor chapter are imprisoned workers and the Pecan Shellers Strike in 1938 before turning to Michigan in 1975 when two Filipina nurses were charged with murdering dozens of patients at the VA hospital in Ann Arbor. She then pops back to the Delano Grape Strike with Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez, neglecting to even mention Delores Huerta. Quick stops at the Sanitation strike that also marked MLK’s assassination, Ronald Reagan’s fuckery with the Air Traffic Controller strike, and Occupy Wall Street. She ends with workers during Covid.

Chapter four brings us to anti-war protest. And right off the bat she gets into how occasionally fighting in the military can be its own form of protest (against stereotypes or inequality), especially in the African American community. This section calls to mind both American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky by Sherri L. Smith and The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin.

Chapter five does not begin with a clear focus. We find ourselves in the twentieth century, among immigrants who are finding some conflicting messaging about opportunity and who is welcome. We swing through Marcus Garvey and anti-lynching protests, but I’m still not seeing any real focus. It looks like we are headed toward the Civil Rights protests of the 1960s, but it feels like there’s a lot of circling back.

And circling forward. After passing through the 1960s, the Watts Riots in 1965 act as a springboard to the early 1990s fallout from the Rodney King murder by police before the narrative heads back to mid-century and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

A brief reference to music, culture, and Alvin Ailey. Literally two paragraphs.

Chapter six looks to bring us feminism and women’s suffrage. As with most history in the United States, women’s rights were also fraught with racism. Suffrage and reproductive rights—including the right not to be sterilized and to access birth control—are both discussed. She hits on Title IX and Roe v Wade, with the briefest stop tackling LGBTQ protest in the context of domestic violence.

Chapter seven looks at protesting police violence, and the tone is increasingly zealous. There is a religious fervor to her writing, a sermon-like style. Are we circling back to Prince Hall? We are back to colonial policing and slave patrols, lynching and quite graphic descriptions. But we then inch forward with Chinese Americans protesting police violence and overreach in 1975 New York, and the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969. But hand in hand with protest was homophobic exclusion (see: Bayard Rustin). And now back to Rodney King.

She rounds everything out by summarizing some of the more high profile murders of Black people by police, which somehow is even more depressing than I would have expected. But on page 267 she adds in a paragraph about protesting the use of tax dollars: “Rather than providing for our protection, our tax money is funding death and weaponization against us.“ This framing of taxation implies it is inherently and completely corrupt. There is no room here for taxation to create roads and schools and libraries and community good. It is a chilling framework that made me wish for a writer who could more nimbly show both the horrors and the hope, instead of just the bleakest view.

Chapter eight is the final chapter. We end with environmental racism and climate change. She rounds off with another strong reminder that the language we use to describe history matters. And one of her final paragraphs brings us back to the beginning: "Throughout US history there have been protests that have compelled this country into being a more perfect union despite its commercial nature. Protesters made the words 'equal justice under law' more than a hollow slogan and challenged those who led the US empire to give substance to American idealism. Protesters will not rest until liberty rings for all people in the United States of America. Progress in the United States of America was made by regular people using resistance, rebellion, and activism.

Note: too many commas. And I say that as a prolific comma user who frequently has to remove my own excess commas (but never the Oxfords: those stay).

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is organized by theme and covers a lot of material. I did like the book but felt like it jumped around and discussed lightly some events. And mentioned some multiple times instead of going in depth.

[Mia Carter]

A Protest History of the United States by Gloria Browne-Marshall is a compelling and necessary contribution to the ReVisioning History series. With clarity and conviction, Browne-Marshall traces the lineage of American protest from Indigenous resistance to colonial invasion, all the way to the modern-day climate justice movement. This book doesn’t just recount history—it redefines how we understand protest as a vital force in shaping a more just society.

What sets this work apart is its expansive and inclusive approach. By drawing from a wide range of legal and historical sources, Browne-Marshall gives voice to those often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Figures like Chief Powhatan, Muhammad Ali, and David Buckel are presented not just as protestors, but as pivotal actors in America’s ongoing struggle for justice—each with deeply personal motivations and far-reaching impact.

This isn’t just a history book. It’s a call to recognize dissent as a foundational American tradition, one that has driven social, political, and environmental change throughout centuries. Even in cases where the protests didn’t achieve their immediate goals, Browne-Marshall powerfully argues that the act of resistance itself plants the seeds of future transformation.

Thoughtfully written and rich in context, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in civil rights, law, activism, or the long arc of justice in the United States.

[Mary Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most recent book by this author and is more than just the history of protest. It’s actually a compilation of landmark cases and the people that really made a difference in the world and that was very interesting to me.

The book is set up with each chapter as a category - and includes all people from indigenous people to those affected by employment and the environment and more!

The need for protest in the past was very clear, especially in the chapter regarding the treatment of African-Americans concerning criminal matters. And unfortunately, some of these Atrocities continue today, which is also interesting. There still is a lot of work to do and peaceful protest is a solution in many cases.

This author is an historian and a visionary - her book is one that could help change our society to make it one where all people have rights and are treated with respect. Her own personal story throughout the book added to her vision and passion for this subject, she definitely showcased her knowledge of the subject matter and proved that her suggestions for positive change were possible.

Everyone should read this book and know about the history and importance of protest and the types of civil liberties that a society needs to be a free one. Know your rights and defend them so that they will not be taken away.

[Tim Schillinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros
>>Easy to read, easy to follow, and well organized into themes that trace certain threads throughout US history without losing the bigger picture.
>>Highlights less talked-about events and ideals in US history, shedding light on the push-and-pull process of progressive elements in American culture, showing that progress isn't linear or straigh forward.
>>Exposes both known and forgotten names of people who stood up against tyranny and injustice, risking life, limb, and reputation. People who were disgraced or forgotten in their lifetime and who deserve to be venerated for their courage to stand against violence and oppression.

Cons
>>The author never defines what a "protest" actually is (its types, its strains, the elements that distinguish it from other social movements, or what it isn't). This becomes intellectually frustrating as the author continuously stretches the term to cover nearly anything: remembering, living, clothing, loving, speaking, moving. Without boundaries, the concept loses its analytical power.
>>The lack of definition opens a serious problem. The author's bias toward designating anything a minority group does as a form of protest, while leaving "protest" itself undefined, feels intellectually dishonest. If resisting government encroachment on rights is protest, then wasn't Southern secession a form of protest? If keeping one's culture alive despite popular resistance is protest, then wouldn't the Jim Crow era qualify? If standing up against a perceived unjust system is protest, then wouldn't January 6th count? By the author's own loose criteria, all of these regressive and racist events would meet the threshold, yet they're categorized as revolts, presumably because they were enacted by white racists. To be clear, none of these events should be venerated, and all serve as examples of regression. But the author's lack of intellectual rigor leaves this critique wide open and makes it easy to dismiss the book as serving a predetermined agenda rather than doing serious historical work.

Summary
This book is at its best when it's doing what traditional history often fails to: lifting up the forgotten, the disgraced, and the courageous who fought against injustice and were buried by their own era. The thematic organization works well, and the lesser-known stories genuinely expand your understanding of how progress has actually functioned in American life: messy, nonlinear, and hard-won. But the book undermines its own strengths by refusing to do the foundational intellectual work of defining its central concept. When "protest" can mean virtually anything, it ends up meaning very little, and the selective application of the term based on who is doing the protesting rather than what is being done reveals a framework built more on sympathy than rigor. A rewarding read for the stories it surfaces, but a frustrating one for the analysis it avoids.

[Bobby Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A History of Protest in the United States
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
This book moves like a protest march that knows exactly where it’s going, and why. Written by a full professor of constitutional law and Africana Studies—who also happens to be an Emmy-winning writer, social-justice attorney, activist, film producer, and playwright—it blends legal precision with narrative punch. Just imagine a female version of the iconic James Baldwin, just as dynamic, just as formidable, just as eloquent, but with even a few more tools on her tool belt! The result is not a dusty chronicle of marches and movements, but a living history of dissent as a defining feature of American democracy, not a glitch in the system.
What makes the book stand out is how it defines, identifies, and feeds unknowing minds concerning the power of protest while still unapologetically defending it. Court cases, constitutional flashpoints, and street-level activism are woven together with a storyteller’s instinct, an activist's enthusiasm to correct a particular injustice, and a lawyer’s eye for consequences. From abolition to labor, civil rights to contemporary movements, protest is shown not as chaos, but as a disciplined force that repeatedly drags the Nation closer to its stated ideals—often kicking and screaming.

The prose is sharp, accessible, and confident. This is scholarship without the smugness and activism without the slogans. The author lives a life grounded in the power of protest to create pressure, shift public opinion, and force systemic change, while challenging authority and asserting rights through impactful demonstrations. You finish the book with a clearer understanding of how power actually changes in the United States—and why protest has never been un-American, but profoundly American. If history is written by the victors, this book reminds us that protest is how the rest of the country gets a pen.

Gloria J. Browne Marshall has a red, black, and green steroid-filled pen that says, before reading this book, "Get Your Popcorn Ready!"

[Jerry Edward Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author believes in public protest. She writes in the prefatory notes to this book that “[p]rotest, to me, is spiritual.” She demonstrates how seriously she believes in the act of public protest in our nation’s history when she recalls that her first protest activity was about adequate school financing while she was an elementary school student. The author is now a law professor (John Jay College), writer, playwright, and social justice activist. In this book, Browne-Marshall writes of the history of public protest movements and rebellion in the United States. The earliest came with indigenous peoples’ resistance to European colonization. Later protests have followed labor and employment strife, civil rights concerns, anti-war activism, and climate change. The author identifies key players involved in these efforts. This book draws upon legal documents, archival material, government documents and secondary sources to illustrate how protests were organized and conducted. The story of Muhammad Ali who refused to be inducted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam era and appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court is one example. The author hopes that this nation is made better when the people demand more of the nation and its government. She wants this book to be a guide for protest to help in that improvement. Recommended for many readers.

[Jessica DeVita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall delivers a compelling and expansive look at the role of protest in shaping American identity in A Protest History of the United States. From Indigenous resistance to European colonization to modern movements for climate justice, she traces the evolution of dissent with clarity and purpose. Organized chronologically, the book offers a sweeping introduction to key moments, movements, and figures, while emphasizing the vital roles played by often-overlooked communities—especially women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ activists.

What sets this book apart is Browne-Marshall’s deeply personal connection to the subject; for her, protest is not just political—it’s spiritual. Drawing from legal documents, archival sources, and firsthand accounts, she brings both legal insight and emotional weight to these stories. Though some topics could benefit from more depth, the breadth of coverage makes this an excellent starting point for readers looking to explore the history of American activism.

Highly recommended for students, educators, and anyone interested in the power of collective action. It’s a timely, relevant, and inspiring read—one that reminds us that progress often begins with protest.

[Andrew P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Protest History is a book for everyone. A must have! It is both timely and timeless!! It provides an important examination of the history of protest in the US expanding our popular understanding of this term beyond its common usage to offer a fascinating historical journey from colonial America to the present day. Browne-Marshall has taken the deeper meaning of the word protest and made it accessible and relatable to the everyday reader. By weaving protest into the very fabric of American history and focusing on its application to many key events the author provides the reader a very powerful, well crafted and fascinating book. I read this book while viewing related current events unfolding in real time which to me was both exhilarating, enlightening and led me to reconsider what I thought I knew about this subject. Further, the author explores this topic on a personal level in the sharing of her family history along with these very human protest stories at such a high level that for me it was a page turner holding my interest from cover to cover. This book was written in the tradition of great intellectuals/writers including W.E.B. Du Bois, Toni Morrison and James Baldwin to name a few. I highly recommend this book!

[Julian Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book is good. Browne-Marshall, a respected legal scholar, professor, and activist, writes a single volume history of different social movements in the U.S. that women, people of color, laborers, and other groups participated in to participate fully in this country and exercise their rights. As a legal scholar, Browne-Marshall is very focused on a liberal conception of rights, though she does not exclude the contributions of radicals and Marxists like Angela Davis and Malcolm X.

This book is a little uneven, she seeks to cover a lot of ground in a short book, and some parts are repetitive while other protest events are glided over or ignored. This book would mainly be useful for young activists or people who need an introduction to radical history, it reminded me a lot of the work of Howard Zinn. My only real issue with this book was that she described the victims of the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, a (the) key moment in Jewish American labor history, as young German and Italian women. While some of the victims were Italians, the majority were Jewish, and I felt like Jewish contributions to 20th century labor history were ignored in this book. Overall though, very readable, interesting and nuanced.

[Magen Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is organized chronologically, allowing readers to see the evolution of protest movements from the early days of the nation to contemporary issues. She does an excellent job of highlighting key events and figures, while also emphasizing the contributions of often-overlooked groups, particularly women and people of color. This inclusive approach enriches the narrative and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse voices that have contributed to the American protest landscape
Overall, "A Protest History of the United States" is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the roots of social change in America.
This work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of activism and the ongoing struggle for justice, making it a valuable addition to both academic and personal libraries. Highly recommended!

[Cassie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

My library hold for this book came up the day before the No Kings Day protests, which felt like beautiful timing. I greatly appreciate this book, especially for the clear messaging that protest is not just going out on the streets with signs and chants, but is also lobbying, litigating, educating oneself and others, and even what seems like the mere act of surviving. My only criticisms of the book would be that Browne-Marshall does at times seem to include extraneous information that isn’t entirely pertinent to the subject; and, due to the organization of the chapters, has several instances of repetitive sections (e.g. three different references to the events surrounding MLK’s death and two different explanations of the Rodney King riots).

[David Derkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encouraging to see how far we’ve come in some areas as a nation in the last 250 years, depressing to think how little we’ve progressed in others. Some parts of this book are definitely more interesting than others, and I had some difficulty staying focused on the audiobook many times. Also had a couple minor quibbles, like the antiquated generalization that video games as a whole promote war as an adventure, and the author’s assumption that her friendly mailman was a racist when some letters she sent to colleges never arrived (plenty of other reasons that could’ve happened, I assure you). But as a whole, I thought it was decent, and a good reminder of the many injustices that form the foundation of our country and how people have been pushing back against them for generations.

[Michael Larzelere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown-Msrshall established from the very first settlement, Jamestown to the present day,not only the need for pro tests but outcomes gains and losses. She shows how different groups such as native born, blacks, Chinese, and other ethnic groups have had their struggles. Central to the theme has always been to fight against the white established in control class.
while the surhor shows bias toward the American government this is a must read for any person who wants to know more about the real history of America and how protests not only shaped our laws, but also defined us as a nation.

[Aleah Briarly · Rating 5 out of 5]

6★ Absolutely incredible. I think this is my favorite lens of American history so far. Protest has so many shapes and forms that this book so beautifully showcases. I learned so many new things and it just really goes to show that we have always resisted and will always continue to resist these horrible, oppressive systems. A huge step in that is to be able to actually start to see the systems and understand how they got there in the first place. I think I added ten more books to my tbr, and I'm excited to keep learning more as I progress in my own personal protest journey!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m rounding up because I think I understood that the author was trying to provide an introduction with a broad range of topics and they definitely accomplished that. This would be a fantastic introduction to so many worthwhile causes. I wish it was longer and went deeper but would strongly encourage people interested in learning about a wide array of subjects then diving deeper with other titles to learn more. Very relevant to our times.

[Relena_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a 4.5 because the book ends abruptly, which was off-putting after such a thorough reflection at the end of each chapter. Maybe Browne-Marshall decided that those reflections sufficed, but I've seen her speak and I really wanted that powerful wrap up to the ending. As it is, each chapter can be easily taught in isolation with its individualized conclusion.

This is a vital entry into the canon of American history. People should be reading this.

[Ramon Alejandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall delivers a meticulously researched book that details protest movements from indigenous resistance to climate change demonstrations. “A Protest History of the United States” works more of a textbook that will interest scholars and students, but there are enough unknown moments in protest history that are detailed in this book that should interest anyone fascinated by U.S. history.