In her graphic novel Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts, scholar and activist Rebecca Hall shifts the narrative of the transatlantic slave trade, highlighting the power of women during these times. Hall argues that the truth about women-led resistance to the slave trade has been hidden at the whims of the patriarchy. Examining the patriarchy not just in Western culture but all over the world, one finds similarities across cultures: Men are seen as the protectors, the carriers of strength, and, when necessary, the fighters. Women, meanwhile, are viewed as the nurturers, and although they are not always directly called so, they are often considered weaker than men. Hall maintains that the true history is filled with women warriors who had significant roles during slave revolts and in African tribes.

For example, Hall writes about the Agojie of the Dahomey, renowned female warriors who were elite soldiers in a highly militarized society. According to Hall, these women were intelligent, aware of the dangers of war and the sacrifices required, and wielded power. Hall writes, “In Dahomey, the Agojie were trained from a young age to wield weapons and lead in battle—a role that combined both physical strength and political acumen.” The Agojie fought for independence against Europeans who sought to conquer tribes. Uniquely, these warriors fought not only for their community members but also for those from neighboring tribes, as they knew that European slavery brought harm to all Africans. The Agojie were integral to the decision-making process and the strength of the ancient African kingdom. Their leadership and intelligence made them equipped for prominent political roles.

While in recent years there has been more representation of the role of female warriors in African society—for example, in movies such as The Woman King, which depicts this all-female military protecting the African kingdom of Dahomey—previously, this history had been hidden from mainstream narratives about Africa, as Western societies sought to suppress the true strength and capabilities of African nations and tribes. European and other Western nations have frequently pushed the notion that before slavery Africans belonged to primitive communities and needed European strength to guide them to a better way of life. Conversely, Africans lived in complex societies led by warriors, kings, and queens. 

Hall shows how women continued to appear in powerful positions in African society. In these roles, they made important historical contributions and possibly attained skills that could have influenced their involvement in slave revolts. Hall acknowledges that slave revolts were more common than traditionally acknowledged, oftentimes spontaneous. 

While the agency of Black individuals has been continuously downplayed in studies on slave revolts, the impact of women in particular is further ignored in dominant narratives. Women oftentimes led the charge in rebellions on slave ships. They were often underestimated by their oppressors, being placed near the weaponry, as male slave traders didn’t fear resistance from women and children on board. Despite this, women chose strength above all. Hall notes a powerful observation—one that is often ignored in studies of African slavery. There are so many differences between slave revolts that, many times, historians fail to notice similarities. But one pattern was clear to Hall: Revolts were more likely to occur when women were on the ship and had the capability to act in revolt. Women were the fighters.

Women oftentimes were subjected to harsher realities on slave ships, including sexual violence and other forms of abuse, making their desire for freedom even stronger. Their need to think not only of their survival but the survival of their children or their community led to organizing and taking the initiative, emphasizing these women’s mindsets not just as slaves but as individuals, mothers, and daughters. 

The history that Hall uncovers highlights the links between patriarchy and racism. She combines critical race theory, feminist thought, and the limited research done on the Atlantic slave trade. Her research goes against the understanding that Africans not only sold themselves but also accepted the atrocities that came from European and Western colonization. However, while Hall’s novel does a great job bringing together research, history, and stories that are too often untold, the setup of the novel—mainly filled with pictures, without much text—sometimes limits her ability to go in depth into the research she conducted. While she’s able to detail her personal feelings and experiences, her analysis as a historian fails to come through fully and her critique of women not being given a voice feels incomplete, leaving readers hungry for more.

With movies such as The Woman King or Black Panther that depict Africans as warriors and wielders of strength, we must continue to ask ourselves whether this modern retelling of history is done by those profiting from the stories and voices of Black people or if it is done in a way to finally tell the untold stories of African and African diasporic people. With political leaders continuing to crack down on marginalized education, such as critical race theory, and the true atrocities of the Atlantic slave trade, stories like these become more important than ever to detail the true strength of the survivors.