Bloomsbury Academic Activist Rhetoric and Narratives of Resistance in Pittsburgh

This collection explores how the resistance narratives of marginalized communities in Pittsburgh create rhetorical capital to confront various forms of social injustice. The contributors examine the rhetoric of resistance in the city of Pittsburgh via the stories of various marginalized communities who have resisted discrimination, exclusion, and inequities. A variety of narratives of resistance are discussed, from August Wilsons theatrical works that gave voice to Black experiences, the 1892 Homestead Strike that shaped labor organizing, contemporary criminal justice reform efforts, women’s political leadership, juvenile justice advocacy, environmental activism by Rachel Carson and Edith Ammon, movements for housing justice, and cultural organizations like the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the City of Asylum. While some chapters focus on known icons, the volume centers everyday citizens advocating for their communities’ improved livelihood. The authors argue that local narratives of resistance create rhetorical capital that leads to broader social transformation. Ultimately, this collection positions Pittsburgh as a microcosm of larger struggles for justice and equality, articulating how communities that have historically been excluded from the city’s growth develop powerful forms of resistance to advocate for social justice.