Excellent! Well researched, well cited history that is highly readable is rare - this is all that, plus insightful, and funny. Truly appreciate this book, may even re-read, I learned a lot and I want to dig in more. Thank you!!

Black AF History; The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot is a must read for EVERYONE. BRB shouting about this book from the ROOFTOPS!!! I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America should be the text book that is required in all schools within the United State of America. Of course, this will likely never happen because it is also the type of book that people love to ban. They want it banned because it provides a new perspective on our history and will cause people to question everything that they have been told. It doesn't simplify years of oppression and human genocide. It actually brings these ideas forward so that they are the focus and can no longer be ignored as a massive part of our countries history.

The topics which this book goes through are not easy. The author Michael Harriot isn't afraid to get into the real gritty details that are often forgotten. He introduces historical Black men and women who were tortured in order to teach a lesson in the "name of justice". He also discusses the Black men and women who weren't afraid to speak up and fight against the cruelty that was being forced upon them. He does not hold back from painting the full picture of what actually happened instead of the rosy picture that is normally fed to us.

I will be the first to admit that I had not heard of many of them and it honestly made me feel a combination of guilt and anger. Guilt that I knew nothing of these individuals, who often were the ones being used an example, or the originators of the ways Black people have tried to fight for their own personal freedom. The anger was because it really made me see the lack of truth that is being spread as we are educating future generations. So many lies between passed generation to generation.

Although these topics are often tough to discuss the author uses dark humor to lighten things up. At the bottom of each page are footnotes regarding some of the things that have been discussed on the page. Sometimes these footnotes were actually factual but alot of the time they were the authors commentary on what he had just explained. He brings up alot of good points with these footnotes. For example, white people are horrible at naming things but yet we think we are amazing at it. We seriously give ourselves way too much credit while also purposely ignoring others contributions to society.

Black AF History is such an important addition to our history books. In a time where many things are unknown, education is more important than ever. Not just any education though, the education of the truth that others might not want you to know. The history of the United States of America is built on the shoulders of those whose families were oppressed and whose bodies were often used for labor. These individuals were tortured and it is still happening today. If you are unable to see this, you are NOT paying attention. You are part of the problem and would benefit from the lessons being taught here by Michael Harriot.

Absolutely loved it. So informative and the author manages to inject their own style of snark. This book should be on everyone’s shelf.

Let's get into it! This book deserves a 10/10! Since the scale doesn't read that way it's a 5 stars for me! <br/>Very educational, comical, and necessary!<br/><br/>When you ask me about what I learned in school about history nothing.... Black af should have been my history

I thought that this was a really strong and engaging history of many people who I'd never had the fortune of learning about before. I can sometimes find pure history to be a somewhat dry subject but Harriot found a way to keep the prose engaging throughout. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in general nonfiction, Black,Afircan American studies, American history, or history in general.

This was a real treat- and definitely an eye-opener. Historian and professor Harriot provides an extensively researched and footnoted chronology of the plight of Blacks in America. His format is entertaining, providing a counterpoint to the often heartbreaking events and
viewpoints presented. An exceptional addition to hidden American history literature.

For all the history fans and new history fans, Black AF History provides readers with a new unique view of history that is real and not whitewashed. Today, children continue to learn about history from a white view. This book gives suggestions on how history should be taught. The book tells the stories of people who helped changed history, but haven’t been credited until now. Overall this is an excellent history book and everyone should read it.

I listened to the Audiobook too - highly recommended! Powerful and accessible storytelling. This is the real history. "For too long, we have refused to acknowledge that American history is white history. Not this one. This history is Black AF." I agree! Everyone should listen.

A whipsmart, wickedly funny look at the overlooked history of America as seen by people too often ignored by history. It’s nowhere near as thorough as The 1619 Project but for those wanting an easier place to start exploring the history of Black people in America with some humor to make the learning go down easier, this is the book for you.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4.5 | 😘=2 | 🤬=5 | ⚔️=5 | 17+

summary: what it says on the tin. The Un-Whitewashed Story of America.

thoughts: really really good. I had to binge this in like 36 hours since the ARC was expiring, but it was honestly very well-paced. chock-full of a bunch of stuff my American-public-school-education-in-a-red-state should have taught me.

This book was a tough read because I am faced with the realities of racism in America every day being a Black woman. However, this author added some much needed levity to what is a very dark history that hasn't really given way to a brighter present for Black folks. As another reviewer so aptly wrote: "Black AF History will have you raging, laughing and hating America but loving Black folks." I agree. Necessary read, though those who need to read it most, probably won't!

Oh, this book was awesome.

This is the real history and the author pulls no punches. Understand - he doesn't just tell you the good - he gives it to us warts and all. But it's also all the parts that the history books have chosen not to tell us.

Black history is full of heroes - and villains and geniuses and trailblazers. The author gives us the un-whitewashed history and it's all kinds of glorious.

The writing style is perfect - it's like a conversation around my aunt Margie's kitchen table.

Loved this!

I would exhaust a thesaurus trying to come up with enough superlatives to describe this book. It's meticulously researched, informative, eloquent, profound, humorous, and essential. It should be required reading in any high school or college History program - and in fact it is laid out like a textbook, with each unit lesson summarized with review questions, activities, and supplemental information. I don't often annotate books as I read them, but I annotated the hell out of this one - and I quickly discovered that in highlighting every meaningful, important, quotable passage I was basically highlighting the entire text.


This is a book of truths, counter to the whitewashed mythology that passes itself off as US History in classrooms, living rooms, and the media. "Here, in the folds and creases of the tale of pilfered people, is where America truly lies. That other mythical history that is shared in schools is as real to me as is Atlantis or Oz. It is a gargantuanly tall tale, refined from years of incessant yarn-spinning that has been sugarcoated and stuffed down throats."


The author skilfully intersperses historical facts with family history and anecdotes as context and metaphor, creating a seamless sense of community and connection between past and present as part of the larger whole to which all of it belongs. He writes honestly about historical figures - calling them out or lifting them up as their character and actions merit - and he doesn't pull any punches. I learned so much about figures and events I thought I knew, and even more about ones I'd never heard of before who deserve to be known and remembered. This book is at once enlightening and entertaining, moving and motivating, and absolutely necessary.


Sometimes History books can be dry and dull, but this one is engaging, accessible, and alive, and I couldn't put it down. I loved it so much that I plan to give copies as gifts this holiday. My favourite book of the year; this will have a home on my all time favourites shelf.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley, for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A collection of fascinating stories and history of the US that is definitely glossed over. My favorite sections: Estevanico the African explorer that journeyed across the continental US almost 300 years before Lewis and Clark after escaping enslavers and with the help of Natives. The stories of the Maroon communities of escaped slaves that built whole lives deep in swamps and forests and the tactics they used to avoid capture. The Gullah culture (everything I knew was from what I remember of Gullah Gullah Island on Nickelodeon) and Ida B. Wells.

Definitely the opposite of a dry history book, it's got great writing and fun/thought provoking recaps and questions at the end of each chapter.

Going in I expected more civil rights and recent history, those sections seemed a bit superficial or maybe they are just already thoroughly covered elsewhere. Also South Carolina's history is centered due to the author's connection to the area, which if I had known it might have made me hesitate to pick up the book just because I have no connection to the state, but I ended up really appreciating learning so much about a place I rarely think about. I really apparently did not fully grasp what South Carolina's history was/is before this book.

Once I saw the title and cover artwork for this book, I knew I had to read it, and I couldn't wait to dive right in. It exceeded my expectations.

As I began reading, I became completely engrossed in its contents. I found myself entirely absorbed in its captivating narrative, which skillfully intertwined engaging storytelling with humor, making it impossible to set aside. Michael Harriot possesses a unique skill for masterfully conveying a story. In this work, he provides key elements of history while also highlighting the historical mistreatment of Black people in America, shedding light on often overlooked perspectives and adding just the right amount of humor. This book is a must-read for everyone, particularly those with an unquenchable thirst for a comprehensive understanding of the enduring struggle that has shaped the very core of our nation. It's no ordinary history book; it's a revelation, a rich tapestry that doesn't skimp on the significant elements of our country's multifaceted story. It's akin to a tantalizing tell-all for America and her unimaginable history.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to others. Its pages not only serve as a treasure trove of invaluable information but also present readers with a wealth of thought-provoking questions at the conclusion of each chapter, providing ample intellectual nourishment. If you revel in the fusion of history and humor, you will love this book!

This is a powerful, funny (when did you last say that about a history), and insightful history of the United States with unit review questions and everything--they are unlike anything I, and probably you, have ever seen before. Harriot focuses on history from the other side of the main stream narrative. Instead of Blacks being “dehumanized by simply remaining anonymous,” he puts names to stolen Africans when possible and at least their probable place of origin.

Harriot isn’t afraid to call things as he sees them instead of the enshrined pretty ideals white people want to present. He calls white European “settlers” invaders. In particular, he describes the English as incompetent because they arrived in America without having skills in farming and the only reason they didn’t starve to death was because the Native Americans decided to take pity on them (which I’m sure they regretted). He also names people who fought for the South during the Civil War as traitors.

There is a lot of disturbing information in this book. It is one thing to know about the torture, splitting of families and the lynchings. Or how the English started using enslaved Africans in America as early as in Jamestown, the systematic enshrinement of dehumanizing Blacks in the foundation of local and national government and the institutionalized abuses that continue to exist today. It is another to read the details of the heart-wrenching events, the terror, the actual words people used and the statements they made in their objectives of organizations and movements. The hatred and arrogance are stomach turning. The ignorance mind blowing. The violence appalling.

However, this is not just a depressing book. Harriot relates some of the information in an off-beat way, tells amusing stories of his family and expresses a dry wit. There are some suggestions on how to make things better and there is an important discussion about reparations. Then there is Harriot’s most important point. It is not the twisted white-washed version of American history that has become mainstream. It is that Black people have not been defeated! In spite of everything that has been thrown at them, they have resisted, survived and thrive. Thank them for their indomitable spirit and great achievements!!!

There were Africans with the earliest European explorers in the Americas. They went further than the most well-known names. There were a lot more revolts of enslaved people beyond Nat Turner. And Rosa Parks was not the first Black woman involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Read this book to find out just how many more Blacks did amazing things (and they a lot more out there that aren’t mentioned in this book because one book couldn’t do it all).

Unless this was a multivolume series, Harriot cannot cover everything here. That said, I wish there was a little bit more of the post-Civil Rights movement era. I also think he understates the terribleness of other types of slavery. He explained Black slavery was the worst because it was based on color, they had no rights or a way to get their freedom. However, he has pointed out over and over again that Black rights were subverted and denied even when theoretically they had rights once they were free. It is worse when people are enslaved. In particular, women everywhere, throughout history and to this day are subjected to more violence, exploitation of all sorts and often have less rights under the law. Slavery is a terrible thing in any form because it fundamentally denies the person rights and subjects them to so many awful things.

I am not Black but I am a woman. I have experienced prejudice, know dear ones who were subjected to physical violence and sexual violation because they were women, exposed to the in-built inequality of the very foundation of society and people’s mind set that they aren’t always even aware of, so I think I have some sympathy to what Harriot is talking about. However, I do not know the Black experience (as if there is just one). I cannot say I understand what it is like. I can only say my knowledge has expanded and I hope so has my sensitivity. The legacy of slavery, dehumanization and continued prejudice still fundamentally affect Black people, shape our country to its detriment and the humanity of us all.

Read this! It is important.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was definitely one of my most anticipated releases of this year. Michael Harriot is a force on Twitter and every single tweet thread of his is superbly educational and I’ve probably learnt more American history by following him than reading books. So ofcourse I was gonna checkout his book. And then I got the audiobook copy because how can I resist when he narrates it himself.

However much horrifying the subject matter in this book is, it’s also absolutely hilarious and I guess it would be too hard to read the gruesome history narrated in this book without some levity. While some of the book is about Black historical figures we know, the author gives us more context about their struggles and accomplishments and doesn’t forget to tell us how their complex lives are simplified and whitewashed in the mainstream. On the other hand, we also get to know about many forgotten Black heroes and the many atrocities they suffered and fought against. The author manages to intersperse this narrative with tidbits about Southern as well as African American cuisine, with lots of family anecdotes.

The author is blunt, to the point, no holds barred and funny while narrating this history of America that has been willfully ignored for the benefit of white supremacy. Every chapter is eye opening, and in the author’s words, this book as a whole is the true history of America - a country whose foundations are built on centuries of exploitation and racism. And if you want to know more of these unbridled truths, do checkout this book. Even if you don’t like reading history books, you won’t be able to put this down. And definitely checkout the audiobook for a much richer experience.

Early in the chapter on Reconstruction, Harriot says (the book is not in front of me so I may get a word or two wrong here): "But that's what was being done to us. It's not what we were doing." That seems to me to be a good statement of the purpose of this book. And despite his sharp wit, he's not making shit up - pages and pages of footnotes to sources. The list of places to look for the history of black Americans is a great summary of the places he found information.

If you've been reading reasonably widely in histories of racism in America, a lot of this story will be familiar, but Harriot fills it out with specific examples of people and their actions at every period he covers. And he IS very funny. I think the time I laughed the loudest was when he said that Ida B. Wells had the recently identified genetic mutation IDGAF.

He makes a pretty good case that most of the early European colonies in the US would have failed if they hadn't brought in some captive Africans who really knew how to work the land. He makes it pretty clear that most of the wealth generated in the country prior to 1900 was created by the unpaid labor of black people, and reviews how the New Deal and the GI Bill were organized to exclude as many black people as possible, which if you didn't know, you should. And his review of the possible ways reparations could work was interesting - he points out that if it is handled solely by documented lineage descending from an enslaved person, white people would swoop down and take all the benefits, because so many people who identify as white have an African ancestor through white men abusing black women. And he takes a quick excursion of the development of political parties to explain why it's BS when today's republicans say they're the party of Lincoln, and how the Republican party became the party of white people.

I'd recommend this to just about anyone who's got a corner of their mind open to the idea that American history isn't what we've been taught in school. You have GOT to plan ahead, if you're unfamiliar with this literature and tend to be a delicate snowflake, and NOT GET MAD when the author says "white people." Because no matter what your involvement in or benefit from racism, white people were doing these things and it's better to just accept that fact and keep reading. If your brain shuts off the minute white people are described doing something horrendous, you will NEVER LEARN ANYTHING. Don't be like that.

I discovered Michael Harriott from Twitter. His twitter threads taught me more about history than all of my years of schooling. Reading the Twitter post was like watching a movie. I devoured each one which led me to gathering more information on each topic he posted about. When I heard about Black AF History I eagerly anticipated the release. I was not disappointed. Mr. Harriott's book should be in every classroom. The book is a solid TEN! I encourage everyone to get this book today. Thanks so much to #netgalley for the ARC. #BlackAFHistory