Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of AmericaBlack AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
What it's about
Michael Harriot, a columnist and commentator, retells American history from the perspective of Black Americans, from the first Africans brought to Virginia to the present. He covers the stories the textbooks skip or soften: slave revolts and maroon communities, Black soldiers in every American war, the violent end of Reconstruction, the massacres, and the people who fought back. He mixes serious history with jokes, lists, charts and pop culture comparisons, and he doesn't hold back.
Why it's worth reading
It spent more than forty weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's one of the rare history books that's genuinely funny and still challenges what readers thought they knew.
You'll love it if you liked
How the Word Is Passed
Stamped From the Beginning
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great MigrationGood to know
The humor is pointed and irreverent, and the language is strong. It's a broad survey, so it moves fast.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz62 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #38 of the 198 history books we rank
- #39 of the 481 new books we rank
- #215 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America worth reading?
Yes. It spent more than forty weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #215 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America about?
Michael Harriot, a columnist and commentator, retells American history from the perspective of Black Americans, from the first Africans brought to Virginia to the present. He covers the stories the textbooks skip or soften: slave revolts and maroon communities, Black soldiers in every American war, the violent end of Reconstruction, the massacres, and the people who fought back. He mixes serious history with jokes, lists, charts and pop culture comparisons, and he doesn't hold back.
How long does it take to read Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America?
About 12 hours (478 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America?
If you liked it, try How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith, Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi or The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.