Rise and Resist

This powerful guide draws on strategies from Black resistance movements and merges historical wisdom with modern technology to combat the DEI backlash and build sustainable workplace equity in today’s hostile climate. As the unprecedented backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion intensifies—with corporations dismantling initiatives, lawmakers passing anti-DEI legislation, and post–George Floyd promises abandoned—this tactical handbook arms advocates with revolutionary resistance strategies drawn from Black historical movements. Dr. Janice Gassam Asare transforms centuries of Black resistance wisdom—from Underground Railroad networks to civil rights organizing tactics—into modern resistance plans, wielding ethical AI as a force multiplier to create sustainable change that outlasts corporate whims and political cycles. Each chapter grounds modern workplace tactics in revolutionary approaches of more than twenty prominent Black historical figures, including the following: Ida B. Wells—Documentation techniques for workplace injustice inspired by her work Ella Baker and Fred Hampton—Coalition-building methods from the American civil rights movement Toni Morrison and Angela Davis—Narrative control strategies drawn from their celebrated writing Whether you’re a DEI practitioner navigating corporate pushback, an employee experiencing equity rollbacks, or a leader committed to sustainable inclusion, this handbook provides battle-tested strategies for preserving workplace equity—even in hostile environments. This isn’t just about surviving the backlash. It’s about reimagining workplaces where everyone thrives.