This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Many Republican politicians

have made attacks on Black History a part of their platform, trying to erase key perspectives

and events from the nation's classrooms and libraries. The writer Michael Harriet is

fighting back.

This is the thing I believe. It's not Black History, they're white watching. It's white

history. They don't care about us knowing what Black people achieved. They care about

us knowing what we had to struggle against.

Black AF History, the unwhite watch story of America coming up on a word with me, Jason

Johnson. Stay with us.

Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm your host,

Jason Johnson. It took generations for America to begin teaching facts about Black History.

Now several political leaders have made it their mission to reverse that hard one progress.

They're removing books about civil rights and lessons about slavery from schools, even

from schools that primarily serve children of color. Even before these attacks, most Americans,

even Black Americans, had limited exposure to Black History. The backgrounds of the people

enslaved on this continent were simplified. The violence of that institution was softened,

and the achievements of Black people throughout this country's history were ignored. But one

of the people fighting for a true retelling of Black History is Michael Harriet. He's

a columnist for the Grio and frequent contributor to MSNBC whose work has appeared in the Washington

Post and the Atlantic. His new book is Black AF History, the unwhite watch story of America.

And he joins us now. Michael Harriet, welcome to a word.

Thanks for having me.

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