Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
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Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.8 out of 5 stars 721

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 Americanhistory is white history. Not this one. This history is Black AF.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Product details

Listening Length 15 hours and 42 minutes
Author Michael Harriot
Narrator Michael Harriot
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 19, 2023
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B097HRBF2Y
Best Sellers Rank #753 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Black & African American History (Books)
#2 in Political Science History & Theory
#2 in Black & African American History (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
721 global ratings
Excellent Book!!
5 Stars
Excellent Book!!
The reviews are all correct and on point when it comes to this book, I usually carry it most places I go as I find it hard to put down and stop reading, very informative and the way Michael Harriot writes the story he is full of his own personal commentary and not afraid to speak truth to power!
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
What more can a person need? I read the ebook while listening to the author narrate the audiobook & am so glad I was able to hear the side comments that are sprinkled throughout the audio. Really well done & although the subject matter is serious, Michael Harriot’s humor is quite enjoyable.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
This book combines amazing amounts of research, compelling stories, and hilarious pop culture references into a book that thoroughly educates on the kind of history that you’d never learn in school.

I was already a fan of Michael Harriot, he’s an incredible writer, and he really knocks it out of the park here. I can’t recommend this book enough.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
Witty, engaging, slightly irreverent, packed with information. This is Black history well beyond the top ten.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
Great read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
I love the way Harriott uses humor, wit, sarcasm and modern language to get across hard and vicious realities about the history of The United States. He makes history fun and easy to read, the opposite of dull school history tomes.

“There’s a word for doing something over and over again and expecting different results:
<i>American</i>.”

Agricultural concentration camps is appropriate terminology for plantations of enslavers.

I enjoyed the family stories though I bet some (white) people will think it’s too much. It’s interesting how many history books I’ve read lately that mix personal history in; I don’t know if it’s to break it up or humanize it but it works for me because I’m so curious about the authors.
16 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
I’ve read a good deal of the books that Mr. Harriot lists at the end of this one, and this is my favorite of them all. I say it’s the best book about Black history because it is by far the most engaging, the easiest to read, and the best paced. I run workshops on this type of content all the time and the stuff is HEAVY. It’s hard to get through an unfiltered look at America without taking a break (or seven). And a drink (or seven).
This book feels like sitting around at the family reunion listening to one of the elders tell stories. He puts just enough humor and personalization into this to make it come alive - without losing the purpose OR killing your soul in the process.
THANK YOU for writing this book! This is going to be my first recommendation to everyone from now on.
34 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
This was the best history book I've ever read. It was written very well and even unexpectedly humorous throughout.
Totally kept my attention and taught me much more than expected.
But the fact that it was funny while also dealing with the most serious subject matter was pure talent and genius from the author.
Best part for me was that although I'm white, i never felt blamed nor offended, just enlightened and educated.
I highly recommend this book. Entertaining, thoughtful, humorous, educational and poignant.
16 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
Awesome Book - Message to the Editor though "you missed one". On Page 95, 3rd paragraph, the date should read "May 10, 1794, not "May 10, 1792". Mistakes happen, but you know editorial mistakes blemishes professional credibility. Still an awesome read. Thank for seeing the project through.