Surviving the Long Wars offers a groundbreaking exploration into the complex histories of US warfare and militarism, illuminating the pivotal role of art in cultivating justice, healing, and abolition. Inspired by Indigenous responses to the “American Indian Wars” and artists from the Greater Middle East and South Asia challenging the “Global War on Terror,” this volume examines the intersections between these legacies of creative rebellion and the experiences of contemporary Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) veterans. Informed by the emerging Veteran Art Movement and its ties to global struggles for demilitarization and abolition, the book advocates for solidarity and imaginative resistance against war and empire.

Featuring poetry, speeches, and artworks from the 2023 Veteran Art Triennial & Summit held in Chicago, the collection exemplifies the Triennial’s profound impact and critical legacy. With interdisciplinary insights spanning Native and Indigenous Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Critical Ethnic Studies, and Museum and Exhibition Studies, Surviving the Long Wars celebrates Chicago’s legacy of resistance, while confronting erasures of Indigenous history. Renowned contributors such as Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Laleh Khalili, Kyle T. Mays, and Junaid Rana offer fresh perspectives on the enduring impacts of US militarism and the potential for unexpected coalitions to emerge. At its core, Surviving the Long Wars is a clarion call for artists, organizers, and scholars to unite against US imperialism, envisioning a future of peace and justice through art and collective action.

CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE:

Maitham Alharbi, Bassim Al Shaker, Hipólito Arriaga III, Andrea Assaf, Kevin Basl, Dorothy Burge, Miridith Campbell, June Carpenter, Bruce Carter, Brittney Chantele, Mahwish Chishty, Elexa Dawson, Jose deVera, Melissa Doud, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Sabba Elahi, Rodney Ewing, Ali Eyal, Darrell Wayne Fair, Sarah Farahat, Frontline Arts, Chitra Ganesh, Mariam Ghani, Frederick Gokliz, GOODW.Y.N., Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds, Gina Herrera, Aaron Hughes, Tom Jones, Rajkamal Kahlon, Ronak K. Kapadia, Ruth Kaneko, Shaymaa Khalil, Laleh Khalili, Gilbert Kills Pretty Enemy III, Erika Renee Land, Terran Last Gun, Joseph Lefthand, Nathan Lewis, Monty Little, Hanaa Malallah, Kyle T. Mays, Hector René Membreño-Canales, Dunya Mikhail, James Pakootas, Chris Pappan, Eric Perez, Yvette Pino, Therese Quinn, Isra Rahman, Michael Rakowitz, Junaid Rana, Gregory Rick, Meranda Roberts, Joseph Running Crane, Sada, Rijin Sahakian, Gerald Sheffield, Carlos Sirah, Hussein Smko, Starla Thompson, Anthony Torres, Dwayne Wilcox, Yiran Zhang, and Amber Zora