The People Rising

The fascinating story of the Christiana Resistance--an act of bravery by freedom fighters defending the Black community--told for the first time for young adult readers.


In the mid-1800s, a formerly enslaved man named William Parker organized his neighbors in Southern Pennsylvania into a group that worked day and night to foil enslavers looking to reclaim people escaping slavery. Their work culminated in a battle that came to be known as the “Christiana Resistance,” when they stood their ground in defiance of the Fugitive Slave Law and moved the nation one step closer to civil war.

In The People Rising: William Parker and the Freedom Fighters of the Christiana Resistance, Robert H. Mayer takes readers deep into the history of this defining moment for a nation on the brink of war. Mayer brings William Parker to life with fascinating detail, sharing Parker’s early days as an enslaved person, his harrowing escape, and how he became a community leader who inspired the Christiana Resistance. In addition, Mayer provides important insight into the battle of words occurring simultaneously in Congress, where people brawled, literally, on the floor of both houses over the question of slavery.

Featuring captivating photos and the actual words of historical figures, The People Rising reveals a vital piece of history for teen readers fighting similar battles today. At a time when the teaching of Black history is being challenged, this book offers an important perspective that reveals the essential role the Black community played in shaping American democracy.