An African American and Latinx History of the United States

By: Paul Ortiz

Narrated by: J. D. Jackson

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

An intersectional history of the shared struggle for African American and Latinx civil rights

Spanning more than 200 years, An African American and Latinx History of the United States is a revolutionary, politically charged narrative history, arguing that the "Global South" was crucial to the development of America as we know it. Scholar and activist Paul Ortiz challenges the notion of westward progress as exalted by widely taught formulations like "manifest destiny" and "Jacksonian democracy", and shows how placing African American, Latinx, and Indigenous voices unapologetically front and center transforms US history into one of the working class organizing against imperialism.

Drawing on rich narratives and primary source documents, Ortiz links racial segregation in the Southwest and the rise and violent fall of a powerful tradition of Mexican labor organizing in the 20th century, to May 1, 2006, known as International Workers' Day, when migrant laborers - Chicana/os, Afrocubanos, and immigrants from every continent on earth - united in resistance on the first "Day Without Immigrants". As African American civil rights activists fought Jim Crow laws and Mexican labor organizers warred against the suffocating grip of capitalism, Black and Spanish-language newspapers, abolitionists, and Latin American revolutionaries coalesced around movements built between people from the United States and people from Central America and the Caribbean. In stark contrast to the resurgence of "America First" rhetoric, Black and Latinx intellectuals and organizers today have historically urged the United States to build bridges of solidarity with the nations of the Americas.

Incisive and timely, this bottom-up history, told from the interconnected vantage points of Latinx and African Americans, reveals the radically different ways that people of the diaspora have addressed issues still plaguing the United States today, and it offers a way forward in the continued struggle for universal civil rights.

2018 Winner of the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award

©2018 Paul Ortiz (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A concise, alternate history of the United States.... A sleek, vital history that effectively shows how, ‘from the outset, inequality was enforced with the whip, the gun, and the United States Constitution.'" (Kirkus Reviews)

"A challenging and necessary approach to understanding our history. A must-read for those who want a deeper perspective than is offered in the traditional history textbook." (Library Journal)

“A welcome antidote to the poison of current reactionary attitudes toward people of color, their cultures, and place in the US.” (Booklist)

Adding to My Curricula!

I found this book exceptional, very well researched, and necessary for the future, my students.

This book kicks ass!

I loved this book, hands down the best history book about Latin and African American history that I've come across in a long while. Many books about the black experience are great, but few dig into the detailed, well research historical events like this one. Give it a read, if this is your type of book as you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic Book!!

I’d definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to get a broader perspective on American history instead of the white-washed one you probably received in middle/high school like I did. I’d also definitely consider using this in my US history classes!

Wow!!

I love this book, my mind is blown. It seems America has the same behavior today!

Must Read

As a latinx person you never really hear about the role of the latinx community in the fight for equality. This book tells it all or as much as possible. I walk away from this with a wealth of knowledge and proud of the Black and Brown community.

POWERFUL BEAUTIFUL HISTORY READS LIKE PROSE

Powerful and informative and head turning even if you know a bit of true history already.
The introduction alone is poetry filled with some sadness but mostly motivating points. We should have heard these voices, the country/countries, the people's stories all of our lives...let's ALL rewrite history and share this to everyone we know. EASY read.

Must read for the 21st century

This great work can serve as the foundation to reform curriculum into including the diverse contributions to the advancement of human rights in American history which was pioneered by the oppressed, those most often denied the title of American. In this sense, it helps broaden the definition of that term, too long misconstrued by the eurocentric nationalism of the U.S. This book is of profound significance
to youthful scholars throughout the Western hemisphere. Will get a copy in print!

Speed bumps to Democracy in US history.

The Book was well done and gives solid solutions in the continuous repetitive racial struggles in America, along with the War on poverty The political game remains the same only the faces and parties change.

Everything we didn’t learn in school

This is an incredible book that is captivating and informative. The author uses credible references to fill in the blanks that k-12 left us with. This has also helped me understand how we have arrived at our current political state. I highly recommend this to people from all walks of life

incredible

incredible history told from the perspective of the peoples who originally inhabited and the ones who built the nation, but sonrarelybget ackniwleged as such. Ortiz is an excellent historian and his book should be required reading, especially today.