• An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

  • Revisioning American History
  • By: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
  • Narrated by: Laural Merlington
  • Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,196 ratings)

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An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States  By  cover art

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

By: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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Publisher's summary

Today in the United States, there are more than 500 federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the 15 million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Dunbar-Ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. And as Dunbar-Ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like James Fenimore Cooper and Walt Whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military. Spanning more than 400 years, this classic bottom-up peoples' history radically reframes US history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative.

©2014 Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Meticulously documented, this thought-provoking treatise is sure to generate discussion." (Booklist)

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What listeners say about An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

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Amazing. Must read.

This is the book we have all needed forever. Please take it in and give to everyone you know!

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4 people found this helpful

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Great subject; truthful about past American genocide; but a bit biased and Marxist in part

I enjoyed this book and will read further books she has written. Most of the material she presented I already knew about, but she did an excellent job tying much of this material together in a short narrative and updating Native American American history to modern times. I thought the presentation was from a Marxist Socialist anti-business anti-development point of view. Her repeated mischaracterizations using the words mercenaries, squatters, civilians, and rangers was often not quite correct. She also ignored the brutality of some Native American actions and the internal strife among various Native American tribes or nations. In spite of all of that, this is an important work that should be read by those interested in how the West was really won and how Native Americans have been treated in the U. S. Since she has been a long term activist that it is hard to be fair to all when writing on this theme.

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3 people found this helpful

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Enlightening

This is a careful and well-articulated account of the oft untold truth of US imperialism and the genocide of indigenous peoples. I highly recommend it! Dunbar-Ortiz is a fantastic writer and historian, and Merlington does a wonderful narrative performance.

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1 person found this helpful

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Intense, but meaningful

Excellent coverage of Native American history and the background of today's realities. Also connected these developments with other aspects of U.S. history/politics/society, such as recent and current international involvements. Very effective.

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Our reality is so different than our fictional history.

Powerful & full of information most of us have not had the opportunity to learn. It would change us as people if we were taught honestly our real history of diversity & multiculturalism. It will make us more thoughtful, respectful, & compassionate.

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awesome

This is an amazing book. Very sad but the ugly truth of the United States. Every American should hear this.

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Amazing!

A great insight into how this country was founded, also a sad reality on how the USA became the "greatest" country on earth.

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Untold History

Great description of a History that is not taught in schools. Very informal and well written book.

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Real history

This puts US history in a new or really its original perspective. The chapters on more recent event are especially eye opening

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rock star read

Super smart and very articulate, an essential read for US citizens - Absolutely invaluable knowledge.

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