This chapter was about revolutions and I feel like I learned a lot. It discusses the revolution in Haiti and Guadalupe and how the Haitain one was successful, but the Gudalupean lasted almost 10 years before slavery was reestablished, and then officially abolished. It discussed how much pain and suffering people went through to be free, to stay free, and when their freedom was taken away. It was mentioned that white people were leaving Haiti due to the Haitian Revolution because they felt unsafe, which is ironic considering why the revolution started in the first place. I don't remember learning about these revolutions in school (though I vaguely remember the Haitain one being mentioned) and it makes me wonder why we are so afraid of people, especially people of color, standing up for themselves and fighting back. No one is better than the other just because of their skin color, and someone fighting for their freedom doesn't harm your position in life. The author then went on to discuss the American Revolution and how slaves were promised freedom if they joined the fight, only to have that promise revoked. I also liked how the author mentioned how many slaves Washington and Jefferson owned (over 300 and 600 respectively), as I feel that people sometimes forget this. I liked the quote that revolutions don't need violence, but it can come up. Everyone likes to sit on one side or the other when this topic comes up, but it's always important to know that violence can arise through anything. I'm really enjoying this book, and I feel like I'm learning things that weren't taught in school or were briefly mentioned.

(This is my first audiobook, so bear with me)

This was a strong, amazing introduction! The author does an amazing job of narrating the book. There is already so much talked about in the intro that I wonder how much detail I'm getting in the 5 chapters. The opening discusses how one of their ancestors got cut by a nail and her mom took her to a white male doctor to get treated and he said he would treat her if she worked for him for the rest of her life (this was during the time of slavery). It serves as a reminder of how awful that time was, and how a doctor could refuse a Black child if they didn't work for them. It then goes into how nonviolence has handicaps to it, how politicians like to quote MLKJr when Black people speak out about their injustice, and how we never question why white people are so violent. Then it discusses how Black women take the brunt of violence contrary to belief and the list of people who have died due to white supremacy. Then it closes with a metaphor of how when a serial killer is on the loose, we never question or try to stop them, we blame the victims, the same that happens to Black people. This introduction already has so many points of discussion, like how why we are fine with being inequal but the moment equal justice is brought up, white people panic. And how white people are quick to blame Black people for violence. And why white people are never questioned for their violence, but Black people are. These topics are discussed already, but they need to be discussed more, especially with how history has played out and the direction the world is going.