The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth Hardcover – February 28, 2023

I found Jermaine Fowler’s The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soulof Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth (Row House, 2023) to be an accessible, well written, and valuable work of history and culture. This will make an excellent reference book on your shelf, a wonderful gift for a history/cultural studies lover, and also a good book to share and discuss so you get your money’s worth and have fun at book club. My kids will be reading this for homeschool work too:)I have enjoyed listening to The Humanity Archive Podcast (especially the episodes on Socrates and Pocahontas) and found reading Jermaine Fowler’s book an insightful extension of his podcast episodes, where you have a very smart friend sharing really cool historic insights in an accessible and thoughtful way that makes you actually enjoy learning (often difficult) historic lessons (and helping undue a bunch of the propaganda that you were taught as a child). I find Fowler’s teaching style to be solid, kind, and approachable, with excellent research and insights- it is exciting to learn from him and I am grateful that he keeps sharing the podcast episodes (and hopefully another book) soon. This is one of my favorite paragraphs of many, when he discussed folks enduring the times of the US slave society:“But it is important to remember that during this time people stillclung to life: They still built communities and fell in love. They formednetworks. They got married. They laughed. They joked. They played games.They hoped and dreamed. They raised children. They showed inexhaustiblehuman fortitude and resiliency, a resiliency that is still part of Black culture.” (found on page 182).-Sarah B. (MA trained Historian, homeschool mom, and student of humanity)(received an Advanced Copy before my hardback copy I bought mailed and will be buying more books as gifts- Hello History Holidays 2023: )

Jermaine has done a seemingly miraculous thing with the creation of this book. We all know that history has always been "written by the victors", which is a very dangerous and misleading, often flat out untruthful thing in most cases - discovered to be factual by those who yearn to ask questions and dig just a little bit deeper... It is quickly apparent that Jermaine has saved us some time and has done that digging for us with his blood, sweat, tears and time with a passion that permeates throughout. The Humanity Archive is the most important book that I have read in years. Awe-inspiring, bringing to life stories from our recent collective American past that most of us have never even heard of - Jermaine makes these heroically strong men and women from forgotten black and indigenous history SKYROCKET off the pages and alive into my imagination unlike any author or thing I've ever experienced before. As if that wasn't awesome enough, he then seamlessly & beautifully weaves and connects them to our modern lives from the books start with the express intention on how we can learn from them. His desire to bring people from all backgrounds together, slamming the brake pedal on our world's nefarious and constant attempt of wedging us further apart is soul stirring. This book is more than a single breath of fresh air, it is a life raft for seekers of truth. Seekers of hero's stories we've never heard about (intentionally) in beautiful black history and beyond. Please take me at my word and read this book. It is most necessary.

All the stuff you were never taught or lied to about how non-whites were treated. Well written, not accusatory. But it is good for those in the present to know the truth of the past.

So i have always been fascinated with African American history. The segments that they dedicated in school were always my favorite parts of learning and the fact that Jermaine Fowler reconstructed what i thought i knew, while painting a vivid picture and adding in the story telling and immaculate research… i mean… just read it yoI plan to read it again and go through the biography fully because that alone is it’s own two chapters and if the book on history doesn’t have it like that, is it really fact? Definitely worth it.

This book is a necessary read if we are to create a different future for humanity! Our history is happening now and this book does an phenomenal job of connecting the dots between our past, present & future. It's an incredible blend of storytelling, critical thinking & philosophy that reads so smooth. Jermaine makes going back to look at our history approachable & entertaining, even when parts of it are uncomfortable to be with. Jermaine is an incredible guide through the tangles of our past, bringing forth unsung heroes and their stories to the light.

Great Read

This history novel shares aspects of the historical narrative that I hadn’t heard before. Fowler’s writing style moves at a pace that draws the reader in and takes them on a ride that seems familiar at first but then takes them around curves and pathways that add a rich depth to the fabric and tapestry of American history. This novel proves without a doubt that black history IS American history and our contributions are vital in the success of our nation. If we can see the humanity in every individual, we can better appreciate their perspective. My new favorite history book!