Description

Biographical Note:
MICHAEL HARRIOT is a critically acclaimed poet, journalist, and broadcaster. He’s a senior writer for TheRoot.com, and his work is often cited by outlets and individuals from the New York Times and the Washington Post. Harriot holds a degree in mass communications and history from Auburn University and an MA in macroeconomics from Florida State University.

Review Quotes:

“In a desert of denialism, Harriot’s book is a welcome oasis.” — NPR

“Harriot gives us the story of American history we’ve been missing – one that keeps it real and accounts for the often-overlooked experience of Black Americans.”
— The Root

“With masterful storytelling and extensive, accurate research, Harriot subverts the dominant American narrative, creating a history that is both more truthful and beautifully Black AF.” — The Archive

“Homeschooled in the works of Zora Neale Hurston and W.E.B. Du Bois before becoming an award-winning journalist (for the Grio, Washington Post, CNN, etc.), Harriot makes for a wise and charming guide through the American funhouse of horrors: slavery, erasure, white supremacy — it’s a long list.” — Philadelphia Inquirer

“The book is an amalgam of history, biographies, family memories, political analyses, self-reflection and cultural telescoping. There are recipes and opinions on the differences between soul food and southern cooking. Deadly funny in parts, it can readily provoke readers to laugh out loud and then wonder why they’re laughing. The work’s intentionally fragmented style is a reflection of the duality and duplicity of daily life in Black America.”