Local Author Talk: In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught In School, with Tom Wiener &

GPL welcomes Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz for an author talk for their book 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught In School at 5:30 in the library's Community Meeting Room. This book brings to light the often-suppressed stories of those who risked everything to end enslavement. Profiling 20 Black and white men and women, the book highlights 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. Co-authored by Tom Weiner, a Northampton-based writer, educator, and anti-racist activist, and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, professor and former president of the National Council for Black Studies, the book weaves their perspectives into the narrative, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past. For fans of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and The Color of Abolition by Linda Hirshman, In Defiance is both a testament to those who fought for justice and an inspiration for those who continue the struggle today. This talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, Racial Justice Rising, the Markham Nathan fund, and the Greenfield and Orange Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions after the author talk. Light refreshments will be served. Copies of the book will be available for sale and to be signed by the authors.