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The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth

by Jermaine Fowler

Black history beyond the textbook

Regular price $17.09 USD
Regular price $28.49 USD Sale price $17.09 USD
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Paperback New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    New York Times bestseller

    The supplied metadata describes this book as a New York Times bestseller; no specific rank or list category is s...

  • Editorial selection

    Essence Magazine’s “31 Books You Must Read” (2023)

    Named by Essence Magazine as one of its “31 Books You Must Read” in 2023.

  • Critical praise

    Kirkus starred review

    Kirkus gave the book a starred review and praised it as an innovative reading of Black history.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Black history beyond the textbook

Jermaine Fowler’s survey brings overlooked Black histories into conversation with broader American and world history. The book ranges across subjects including the African slave trade, Seneca Village, and Biddy Mason, using historical storytelling to examine how Black lives and contributions have been obscured in dominant accounts of the past. Its organizing thread is the recovery of those narratives and their relevance to current issues. This paperback edition includes a bonus chapter, “The Biggest Lies in American History.”

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • For readers seeking a broad survey of Black history and its place in American history.
  • For readers interested in historical narratives that challenge textbook-centered accounts.
  • For readers who want to connect overlooked histories with present-day issues.

Themes

Black historyHistorical memory and erasureRace and ethnic relationsThe relationship between past and present

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

NOW IN PAPERBACK WITH BONUS MATERIAL, this NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller is a sweeping survey of Black history shows how Black humanity has been erased and how its recovery can save the humanity of us all. You're also getting an exclusive bonus chapter: "The Biggest Lies in American History."

"An innovative reading of Black history, gracefully joining it to the larger history of all humankind." -- Kirkus Starred Review Named by Essence Magazine as one of "31 Books You Must Read" in 2023. Using history as a foundation, The Humanity Archive uses storytelling techniques to make history come alive and uncover the truth behind America's whitewashed history. The Humanity Archive focuses on the overlooked narratives in the pages of the past. Challenging dominant perspectives, author Jermaine Fowler goes outside the textbooks to find recognizably human stories. Connecting current issues with the heroic struggles of those who have come before us, Fowler brings hidden history to light. Praise for The Humanity Archive: From the African Slave Trade to Seneca Village to Biddy Mason and more, The Humanity Archive is a very enriching read on the history of Blackness around the world. I was hooked by Fowler's storytelling and would recommend others who want to pore over a book that outlines critical moments in history--without putting you to sleep. -- Philip Lewis, Senior Editor, HuffPost Fowler sees historical storytelling and the sharing of knowledge as a vocation and a means of fostering empathy and understanding between cultures. A deft storyteller with a sonorous voice, Fowler's passion for his material is palpable as he unfurls the hidden histories. -- Vanity Fair Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Jermaine Fowler is a storyteller and self-proclaimed intellectual adventurer who spent his youth seeking knowledge on the shelves of his local free public library. Between research and lecturing, he is the host of the top-rated history podcast, The Humanity Archive, praised as a must-listen by Vanity Fair. Challenging dominant perspectives, Fowler goes outside the textbooks to find recognizably human stories. Connecting current issues with the heroic struggles of those who've come before us, he brings hidden history to light and makes it powerfully relevant.
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