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    Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
    Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
    Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
    Audiobook15 hours

    Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America

    Written by Michael Harriot

    Narrated by Michael Harriot

    4.5/5

    ()

    • Education

    • Civil Rights

    • Civil Rights Movement

    • American History

    • Black History

    • Mentor

    • Fish Out of Water

    • Underdog Story

    • Social Commentary

    • Power of Education

    • Great Escape

    • Struggle for Freedom

    • Coming of Age

    • Power of Friendship

    • Power of Love

    • Colonization

    • Racial Inequality

    • Ku Klux Klan

    • Mass Incarceration

    • African American History

    About this audiobook

    From acclaimed columnist and political commentator Michael Harriot, a searingly smart and bitingly hilarious retelling of American history that corrects the record and showcases the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans.

    America’s backstory is a whitewashed mythology implanted in our collective memory. It is the story of the pilgrims on the Mayflower building a new nation. It is George Washington’s cherry tree and Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin. It is the fantastic tale of slaves that spontaneously teleported themselves here with nothing but strong backs and negro spirituals. It is a sugarcoated legend based on an almost true story.

    It should come as no surprise that the dominant narrative of American history is blighted with errors and oversights—after all, history books were written by white men with their perspectives at the forefront. It could even be said that the devaluation and erasure of the Black experience is as American as apple pie.

    In Black AF History, Michael Harriot presents a more accurate version of American history. Combining unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources as well as the work of pioneering Black historians, scholars, and journalists, Harriot removes the white sugarcoating from the American story, placing Black people squarely at the center. With incisive wit, Harriot speaks hilarious truth to oppressive power, subverting conventional historical narratives with little-known stories about the experiences of Black Americans. From the African Americans who arrived before 1619 to the unenslavable bandit who inspired America’s first police force, this long overdue corrective provides a revealing look into our past that is as urgent as it is necessary. For too long, we have refused to acknowledge that American history is white history. Not this one. This history is Black AF. 

    Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

    Editor's Note

    Eye-opening…

    The history books we studied in school were written by white men. Harriot subverts the whitewashed version of America’s founding and development, retelling it from Black and indigenous perspectives and introducing essential characters forgotten by traditional historians. Telling it like it is, Harriot gives bitingly accurate descriptions of softened terms like plantations (“forced labor enterprises”) and Jim Crow (“American apartheid”). Funny, audacious, and eye-opening, this is the REAL history of the U.S., and it’s Black AF.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateSep 19, 2023
    ISBN9780358578406
    Author

    Michael Harriot

    Michael Harriot is a columnist at theGrio.com where he covers the intersection of race, politics, and culture. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, NBC, BET, and on his mother’s refrigerator. He is a political commentator on MSNBC and CNN and has been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists for commentary, digital commentary, and TV news writing. Michael is the creator and cohost of the podcast Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History, produced in partnership with Pharrel's OTHERtone. His college course “Race: An Economic Construct” was adapted by university economics departments across the country as a model for teaching the combination of history, economics, politics, and class structures. 

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    Reviews for Black AF History

    4.5/5

    98 ratings16 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a well-founded and straight forward exploration of history through the black lens. The author's biting humor lightens the darkness of the subject while still conveying the pain. It is not a book for those who prefer popular narratives, as it presents deep holes of facts that may shake them up. However, it is a must-read for any white person wanting to understand the race issue in America. Some reviewers criticize it as anti-white propaganda, but overall, readers appreciate the edutainment value and cultural jokes that keep them engaged.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Everybody needs this book on their shelf! It’s packed with information and told as only a black person could tell it. I really enjoyed this audio. I also bought a physical copy to go back through it.
    • 5/5
      An amazing read that is backed by historical evidence and knowledge passed down through generations. They tried to erase us from history, I appreciate the work the author made to preserve our memories and impact on history. Thank you!
    • 5/5
      Great book everyone should definitely read twice.perhaps even taught in schools
    • 5/5
      I love Michael, this book was a breath of fresh air exposing the truth about history and being unapologetic about it. Ase'

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book was the embodiment of edutainment. While dropping knowledge, Michael’s cultural jokes and euphemisms kept me LOL’ing. Well done!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      God bless Mr. Harriot. He spent a great deal of time and energy researching this tome and pored himself into the project with zeal and fervor. Unfortunately he was every bit as guilty of bias against a race as he attributes to his adversary(ies) who are his villains here.

      One can forgive much of his hypocrisy since he and many Black people have suffered greatly as a result of evil white racists (and, unfortunately, even from actions and/or inactions of other whites as well), While I appreciate Mr. Harriot bringing out the many instances that have so damaged the Blacks in America, I fault him for falling into the same mindset that he accuses all white Americans of possessing (directed in the opposite direction, of course.

      In general, however, for the most part, I enjoyed the book and Mr. Harriot’s sense of humor and his personal/family anecdotes. Once I settled in to where he was coming frbom, I was able overlook the bigotry he himself was not able to disguise and get on with his book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Should be required reading! I highly recommend this thought provoking book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      How anyone can maintain that the Civil War was not about slavery and protecting the economy of the sounth is beyond me. In high school, I wrote a paper about the events leading up to it, back when we still had to go to the library and do some actual research. Details aside, the historical literature at the time agreed that protection of the slave economy was the main trigger. I'd say that 35 years later, we live in a post-truth world, but after reading this book, this appears to have been the case for centuries where black Americans are concerned. Be enlightened and entertained by this totally enjoyable and very relevant book!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this well researched book. I would suggest all to read this one was great.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is the best of many books that I have read regarding American history and Black people. It is entertaining, devastatingly factual, uplifting, and educational. It says what many other book don’t dare say- the ugly truth of America. Every Black person who has ancestry stemming back to Africa via the transatlantic slave trade must read this book. It explains a great deal and shows a pathway to today’s conditions within the Black community here in America. The torture, extreme cruelty and violence, the theft of life and land and the boldface lies constantly told on a day to day basis are just astounding, I don’t know how any people could be so evil for over 400 years. If you understand that, then you know what you need to know to move forward in this country and develop an unrelenting perseverance. I’m giving this book to all of my friends and family for Xmas, birthdays, holidays, baby showers, etc. I don’t care what the occasion I’m showing up with my customary gift of a bottle of some alcoholic beverage and this book. That’s how serious it is. I knew a lot of this but to have so much of it all in one book is AWESOME!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Worth every single minute. I learned more in this book and retained the information! Better than any of my k-12 years learning about American history.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Must read for any white person wanting to understand the race issue in America.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Well founded and straight forward. The author's biting humour lightens the darkness of the subject, though it never allows the reader to go off track. The pain is still present. No washcloth in the world can make this history fair. If you prefer to keep riding the popular horse, this book is not for you, the deep holes of facts might shake you up. However, if you want to get history straight, read this book!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The narration is second only to the story itself. Captivating, heart breaking, and inspiring. The history of Black people in America is THE history of America and it’s a task that the author takes in prideful stride.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Excellent job telling history through the black lense. Great job

      2 people found this helpful

    • 1/5
      Bunch of anti white propaganda meant to divide all Americans

      5 people found this helpful