The concept of resistance to power has always been part of the American story, and an online exhibit at the University of Michigan Clements Library demonstrates some of the many ways that truth has played out.

The Art of Resistance in Early America effectively illustrates the many ways that early Americans used creativity to resist things like British colonial rule, slavery, and efforts to silence their voices.

The exhibit grew out of the fall 2023 Arts and Resistance-themed semester at U-M’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and it highlights priceless works from the nation’s past that helped forge its future. (An in-person version of the exhibit has closed.)

The first section explores resistance to British colonial rule and, naturally, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is a cornerstone. The full introduction to the pamphlet can be viewed, and it’s fascinating to read Paine’s thoughts today and imagine their impact at the time.

Left: Phillis Wheatley, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. Philadelphia: Joseph Cruikshank, 1786. 
Right: Title page of Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave, by Sojourner Truth. Boston: Printed by the Author, 1850.

One of the most compelling pieces in the exhibit is a new acquisition, Phyllis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773), the first book of poetry by a Black woman to be published in America. The exhibit notes that Wheatley’s work explicitly makes a connection between the tyranny of British colonial rule and the tyranny of slavery—implying sympathy for the colonists’ cause while bravely and artfully pointing out that far worse things were happening. Her words are beautiful, brilliant, and heartbreaking—and alone make this exhibit worth a virtual visit.

The “Fighting for Freedom” section demonstrates how various artistic media—including music, writing, and photography—became important tools in the anti-slavery movement in the U.S. This emphasizes how it took an entire culture to mobilize against the injustice of slavery. One highlight is a posed photograph and an autobiography of Sojourner Truth. Supporting text in the exhibit explains how she used proceeds from sales of these items to fund her speaking tours, further spreading the reach of her message. It’s an important reminder that Truth's artistry and business acumen are important parts of her legacy.

The “Power of Publishing” part of the exhibit shows how many marginalized or ignored voices—including Indigenous, African-American, and Chinese—nevertheless found ways to tell their stories to the broader society, shattering stereotypes and making powerful statements on behalf of their communities. The creativity on display in the face of indifference or outright hostility offers inspiring examples of the power of the written word. 

The final section, “Everyday Resistance,” shows how resistance can appear in smaller, everyday contexts, like making fun of a foolish rule. This section effectively illustrates that reasons and opportunities for resistance are all around us.

The core takeaway from The Art of Resistance in Early America may be that the spirit of resistance can and should live on in each of us. We tend to think of resistance as happening in large-scale movements, yet those movements are made up of individuals. The Art of Resistance demonstrates just how powerful and effective every one of us has the potential to be.

Bob Needham is a freelance writer and the former arts & entertainment editor of The Ann Arbor News and AnnArbor.com.

”The Art of Resistance in Early America” is available online through the Clements Library.