Q: You’ve been called one of the most innovative historians of your generation. How do you define innovation in historical scholarship?
KB: I think innovation in historical scholarship is the willingness to explore topics that others might not have considered—or the willingness to grapple with familiar topics in new ways. Part of what I have tried to do in my work is not to simply replicate past approaches. I ask new questions, consider new voices that might have been previously overlooked in historical narratives, and experiment with different kinds of research methods to find answers to the questions I am asking. My latest book, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights, for example, came out of my desire to tell the history of human rights in a novel way.  

Q: In Until I Am Free, you bring Fannie Lou Hamer’s voice to life. What do you hope readers carry forward from her story?
KB: There are so many lessons I hope readers learn from Fannie Lou Hamer’s example. I think the most immediate is the impact that one person—guided by a deep, moral conviction and a commitment to truth-telling—can have on society. There were few indicators from Hamer’s early life that she would rise to the national stage and leave a lasting political influence. But she left an indelible mark on the nation, starting at the grassroots and organizing in her community and throughout Mississippi to address the problems facing her family and her neighbors. Until I Am Free demonstrates how Hamer’s ideas and the broader lessons of the civil rights movement are still applicable to today’s struggle. Beyond the many practical examples, I also found Hamer’s words and deeds deeply moving, and I wanted to share them with a wider audience. Love and empathy for others guided her politics, and I think we can all learn from her example.

Q: As a historian, how do you balance academic rigor with the need to make history accessible and impactful for a wider public audience?
KB: I do not think rigor and accessibility are incompatible in historical writing, but I do think a lot of work goes into writing a book that is accessible for public audiences. Part of the challenge for academics is we tend to be insular and only talk to each other. And so we have to move beyond our comfort zones when we try to make our work accessible to those outside academia. I approach each project in the same way—I start with the research, and I focus on uncovering as much as I can on a topic. I spend a lot of time reading to make sure that I have command of the subject and that I know what others have said on the topic as I sketch out my own contribution. I leave the writing for the last stage, and that process involves multiple drafts of a chapter before I am satisfied that the writing is clear and crisp. This also requires allowing others to read my work then paying close attention to their reactions, comments, and questions. This tells me what I have done well and where I still need to strive for greater clarity. These steps ensure that I produce work that others can understand and engage, regardless of their educational background.

To read more of our exclusive interview with Keisha N. Blain, Ph.D, click here.