First published 2023
American history has been whitewashed into mythology. The Mayflower pilgrims, George Washington's cherry tree, and Abraham Lincoln's log cabin dominate our collective memory. Meanwhile, the Black experience gets erased or reduced to stereotypes about slaves who supposedly appeared with nothing but strong backs and spirituals. Michael Harriot corrects this distorted record. He combines provocative storytelling with careful research from primary sources and pioneering Black historians. Harriot removes the white sugarcoating from America's story and places Black people at its center. He reveals little-known stories, from African Americans who arrived before 1619 to an unenslavable bandit who inspired America's first police force. With sharp wit, Harriot speaks truth to power and subverts conventional narratives. This corrective provides an urgent look at our past that acknowledges what we have long refused to admit. American history has been white history. This history is Black.
Genres: american, african-american, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corrective-history, subversive-narrative
432 pages · Hardcover · Dey Street Books