This NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER is a sweeping survey of Black history shows how Black humanity has been erased and how its recovery can save the humanity of us all.
"An innovative reading of Black history, gracefully joining it to the larger history of all humankind." — Kirkus Starred Review
Named by Essence Magazine as one of "31 Books You Must Read" in 2023.
Using history as a foundation, The Humanity Archive uses storytelling techniques to make history come alive and uncover the truth behind America's whitewashed history.
The Humanity Archive focuses on the overlooked narratives in the pages of the past.
Challenging dominant perspectives, author Jermaine Fowler goes outside the textbooks to find recognizably human stories. Connecting current issues with the heroic struggles of those who have come before us, Fowler brings hidden history to light.
Praise for The Humanity Archive:
From the African Slave Trade to Seneca Village to Biddy Mason and more, The Humanity Archive is a very enriching read on the history of Blackness around the world. I was hooked by Fowler's storytelling and would recommend others who want to pore over a book that outlines critical moments in history—without putting you to sleep. — Philip Lewis, Senior Editor, HuffPost
Fowler sees historical storytelling and the sharing of knowledge as a vocation and a means of fostering empathy and understanding between cultures. A deft storyteller with a sonorous voice, Fowler's passion for his material is palpable as he unfurls the hidden histories. — Vanity Fair
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Jermaine Fowler is a storyteller and self-proclaimed intellectual adventurer who spent his youth seeking knowledge on the shelves of his local free public library. Between research and lecturing, he is the host of the top-rated history podcast, The Humanity Archive, praised as a must-listen by Vanity Fair. Challenging dominant perspectives, Fowler goes outside the textbooks to find recognizably human stories. Connecting current issues with the heroic struggles of those who've come before us, he brings hidden history to light and makes it powerfully relevant.
About the Author
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Jermaine Fowler is a storyteller and self-proclaimed intellectual adventurer who spent his youth seeking knowledge on the shelves of his local free public library. Between research and lecturing, he is the host of the top-rated history podcast, The Humanity Archive, which has been praised as a must-listen by Vanity Fair. Challenging dominant perspectives, Fowler goes outside the textbooks to find stories that are recognizably human. Connecting current issues with the heroic struggles of those who’ve come before us, he brings hidden history to light and makes it powerfully relevant.
Praise For…
An innovative reading of Black history, gracefully joining it to the larger history of all humankind [...] Given revanchist White supremacism and its insistence “that slavery was benign,” what remains is to counter untruthful narratives through constant self-education and well-formed knowledge, which Fowler accomplishes in this book. A timely, powerful approach to history that looks into the past to find a path into a better future. — Starred Review
Fowler sees historical storytelling and the sharing of knowledge as a vocation and a means of fostering empathy and understanding between cultures. A deft storyteller with a sonorous voice, Fowler's passion for his material is palpable as he unfurls the hidden histories. — Vanity Fair
From the African Slave Trade to Seneca Village to Biddy Mason and more, The Humanity Archive is a very enriching read on the history of Blackness around the world. I was hooked by Fowler's storytelling and would recommend others who want to pore over a book that outlines critical moments in history—without putting you to sleep. — Philip Lewis
