Teenagers Get Rebellious at the Mill Valley Public Library

For many, the words ”teenagers” and “rebels” in the same sentence elicit a feeling of foreboding. Dawson Barrett, however, has written an entire book demonstrating how teenage rebels have been a major part of many positive, progressive social movements. At 7 PM on Thursday, July 16th, Barrett will speak at a special Mill Valley Library event for teenagers about the teenage rebels of the past, and how young people can be the rebels of the future.

The impetus for writing the book was a personal one, Barrett said in an interview with Microcosm Publishing’s Elly Blue. “My own teen years were an exercise in correctly identifying injustices and then directing my anger almost entirely at the wrong targets. So, I hope young people will read the book and see that it is possible to vent your frustrations in ways that actually make positive changes.”

At the Library event, Barrett will offer a glimpse into the laws, policies, and political struggles that have shaped the lives of American high school students. He will talk about some of the strikes, marches, and picket lines spearheaded by teens all over the U.S. as they demanded better textbooks, started recycling programs, and protested the censorship of student newspapers. He’ll also talk about what it takes to be a successful high school activist and provide resources for teens looking to take action.

This event is for any teen who has ever challenged the rules and wished for a better world.

Food and drinks will be provided.

Registration for this event is strongly recommended. Register here.

Read ”The Kids are Alright”, an interview with Dawson Barrett about Teenage Rebels here.

Praise for the book:

“Unlabeled and under-the-radar, teenagers create their political identities in Dawson Barrett’s stories of young people successfully fighting the power. Righteous and inspiring!” -- JENNIFER BAUMGARDNER

“It’s nothing new that high school students are left out of the political process. They’ve even been left out of most histories of student movements, which focus on colleges - although they led many brave battles in the face of fire hoses in Birmingham and rifles in Johannesberg. In this lucid book, Dawson Barrett corrects that omission. Hopefully these stories will inspire a new generation to fight for their future and not settle for the present. Climate change, unemployment, inequality, all these injustices are stealing from the future.” -- TOM HAYDEN

“The timing of Dawson Barrett’s Teenage Rebels couldn’t be better. Now that standardized testing has been abolished, and Congress has diverted $500 billion per year to public education from the defense and homeland security budgets, and from taxes on the prison-industrial complex, we will finally have free, engaging, quality education for all American kids.” -- ANDY BICHLBAUM

About the author:

Dawson Barrett is an Assistant Professor of US history at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013.

His writings on social movements, punk rock, and the 2011 Wisconsin labor crisis have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular publications, including Portside, LABORonline, and the journal American Studies.