sandsing7's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
adrienned28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
ablakley's review against another edition
It was a bit too much humorous banter for my liking.
reggiewoods's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
With an energetic mix of humor and anger, Harriot tells the history of the often overlooked black Americans who have been fighting for four centuries for equality. Many of the events and people that are already familiar to the reader will most likely be seen in a different light when the black men and women that influenced them are named and given proper credit for their efforts. Harriot mixes in several personal anecdotes to emphasize his arguments, or sometimes to just “settle” some food related debates such as the difference between soul food and southern food. His grounded approach tells a people’s history, de-mythologizing the history we purport, and calling everybody, I mean EVERYBODY, out on their bullshit.
ineffablebob's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.75
If you've read any of Michael Harriot's work, you'll know to expect a good amount of snark and humor, along with some bombastic hyperbole. Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed History of America lives up to those expectations, but it's also a meticulously researched history from the early days of European settlements in America to the present day, with emphasis on Black participants and viewpoints. There's many stories that rarely make it into school history books, from how escapees in the days of slavery formed their own wilderness communities to contributions from Black people in times of war. Interspersed throughout are episodes of Harriot's own family and experiences.
As a white American, there were plenty of times that I felt uncomfortable reading this book, which I think is both intentional and appropriate. Harriot pulls no punches in calling out racism where he sees it, to the point of indicting all of America and every white person. The reader can take that as an insult, nitpicking details or calling it hyperbole or becoming defensive; or take it as a call to examine their own views and actions in light of the Black experience in our society and culture. I choose the latter, as I believe the author intended, and hope others will as well. Reading this book reminded me of visiting to the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture - both put the Black experience in focus in a way that we white Americans rarely see. I highly recommend both.
As a white American, there were plenty of times that I felt uncomfortable reading this book, which I think is both intentional and appropriate. Harriot pulls no punches in calling out racism where he sees it, to the point of indicting all of America and every white person. The reader can take that as an insult, nitpicking details or calling it hyperbole or becoming defensive; or take it as a call to examine their own views and actions in light of the Black experience in our society and culture. I choose the latter, as I believe the author intended, and hope others will as well. Reading this book reminded me of visiting to the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture - both put the Black experience in focus in a way that we white Americans rarely see. I highly recommend both.