Authors, Tom Weiner, a Northampton-based writer, educator, and anti- racist activist, and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, professor in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst, treasurer and former President of the National Council for Black Studies will speak about their book, In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School.

The book brings to light the often-suppressed stories of those who risked everything to end enslavement. Profiling 20 black and white men and women, highlighting their courage, activism, and unwavering commitment to freedom. Through vivid vignettes, including their own words, their struggles and sacrifices come to life.

Amid ongoing efforts to erase history, these stories serve as a powerful corrective- meant to challenge, inspire, and ignite action. The book weaves both author’s perspectives into the narrative, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.