Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America

Harriot utilizes characters as part of his humorous tone. What do characters like Racist Baby and Uncle Rob bring to the narrative? Who or what are they supposed to represent?

Harriot gives activities to the reader, such as trying to convince enslaved people not to run away or to create a post-racial America. Which activity intrigued you the most? Why? Would you ever try to engage in the activity?

Why does Harriot use a more casual, humorous tone? What would have changed in the narrative if he used a more traditional, historical narrative voice?

Black AF History presents Black Americans as heroic, brilliant, larger-than-life figures. Does this differ from how you were taught about Black Americans? If so, how?

Harmful myths about Black Americans are presented and explained by Harriot, such as the myth about Black men as predators. How do stereotypes like that affect American society today? And how are they sustained?

Harriot states that it is impossible to tell whether a politician is truly racist or if they are engaging in racism to get votes from racists. Is there any reliable way to tell the difference? How can you tell if a politician is truly dedicated to anti-racism?

What purpose do the “supplements” and “Unit Reviews” serve in Black AF History? What would the book be like without them?

Many of the Black historical figures Harriot presents are left out of American history, while others seem widely known and celebrated. Why is Harriet Tubman a household name, but Robert Smalls is not? How about Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth?