Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America -- Michael Harriot, Hardcover

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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.

Author: Michael Harriot
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Published: 09/19/2023
Pages: 432
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.36lbs
Size: 9.06h x 5.98w x 1.57d
ISBN: 9780358439165

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 08/01/2021 pg. 14
Library Journal Prepub Alert 04/01/2023 pg. 15
Library Journal 07/01/2023 pg. 74
Publishers Weekly 07/31/2023
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2023

About the Author
MICHAEL HARRIOT is a critically acclaimed poet, journalist, and broadcaster. He's a senior writer for TheRoot.com, and his work is often cited by outlets and individuals from the New York Times and the Washington Post. Harriot holds a degree in mass communications and history from Auburn University and an MA in macroeconomics from Florida State University.