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The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington
Fireside Magazine
February 2018
Nebula Winner, Best Short Story in 2018
February 2018
Nebula Winner, Best Short Story in 2018
13 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
About the author
P. Djèlí Clark
61 books6,282 followersPhenderson Djèlí Clark.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
December 24, 2020
whatever. I've put this in about three different places. Just stopping here to check on Clark's works and see what I've missed.
My least favorite Clark. This one did not work as well for me, consisting as it did of nine little short-short stories about each of George Washington’s teeth originating from various Negro people who were slaves. The slaves aren’t necessarily connected, except that they end up in George’s mouth. At the end of each is a cute little semi-epilogue where . I wanted more inter-connectivity between the stories, or failing that, longer stories about each person. Doesn’t quite transcend to the concept that even in death, these nine people didn’t have ownership of their own bodies. Hopefully it will intrigue people new to Clark enough to give him a try.
My least favorite Clark. This one did not work as well for me, consisting as it did of nine little short-short stories about each of George Washington’s teeth originating from various Negro people who were slaves. The slaves aren’t necessarily connected, except that they end up in George’s mouth. At the end of each is a cute little semi-epilogue where . I wanted more inter-connectivity between the stories, or failing that, longer stories about each person. Doesn’t quite transcend to the concept that even in death, these nine people didn’t have ownership of their own bodies. Hopefully it will intrigue people new to Clark enough to give him a try.
December 31, 2023
This has actually been a reread. But my original review is in some other place.
There are two reasons for this.
The first one being that there is a discrete entry for this story now. It shouldn't be something worth mentioning. However, Goodreads and short stories - this has always been a match made in hell. Frankly, I never understood why it is preferable to have a skewed rating system, and messed up (not properly searchable) shelves, by virtue of forcing people to shelve and rate online magazines, when in fact the vast majority of those people reads (and rates) just one of the freely available stories. It just doesn't make a lick of sense. Maybe at long last they've realized this themselves.
This however is probably the only time where I have actually read the whole (online) magazine in which this story was published. And it always annoyed me that on my short story shelf (which is sorted by how much I liked the respective stories) this shows up in 5th place, but with a rating of three stars, because all the other stories in this issue are utterly forgettable. I'd much rather have the discrete entry for this P. Djèlí Clark story show up there and the magazine somewhere down in 70th place or so. Long rambling short, that's why I'm reviewing it again. Now that the discrete entry is here, and hopefully here to stay.
The reason I've been reading it again, however, is that of all the P. Djèlí Clark stories I've read I gave this the highest rating. But whenever someone asked me (and also when in fact no one asked me) I always said that The Black God's Drums is my favorite story of his. So, let's have another look.
What can I say? Of course I've been right. This story is great.
Inspired by a short note in an account book by a cousin of George Washington the author spins a tale of how the former president acquired possession of nine teeth of former slaves.
In nine vignettes Clark tells of those people's lives. And in doing so he cleverly and seamlessly blends fantastical elements with historical details, which is sort of his trademark style. The result is a highly imaginative work of fiction that repeatedly lets the reader share small and big moments of triumph with its several protagonists.
And which lets George Washington share something with them too. Something beyond only their teeth.
This story is a winner.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I guess now I have to read The Black God's Drums again.
Link to this story: https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
2023 addendum: And now it's a re-reread, actually. I've been looking for a short story for a friend of mine and this is probably not it. But, personally, I'm still loving it.
There are two reasons for this.
The first one being that there is a discrete entry for this story now. It shouldn't be something worth mentioning. However, Goodreads and short stories - this has always been a match made in hell. Frankly, I never understood why it is preferable to have a skewed rating system, and messed up (not properly searchable) shelves, by virtue of forcing people to shelve and rate online magazines, when in fact the vast majority of those people reads (and rates) just one of the freely available stories. It just doesn't make a lick of sense. Maybe at long last they've realized this themselves.
This however is probably the only time where I have actually read the whole (online) magazine in which this story was published. And it always annoyed me that on my short story shelf (which is sorted by how much I liked the respective stories) this shows up in 5th place, but with a rating of three stars, because all the other stories in this issue are utterly forgettable. I'd much rather have the discrete entry for this P. Djèlí Clark story show up there and the magazine somewhere down in 70th place or so. Long rambling short, that's why I'm reviewing it again. Now that the discrete entry is here, and hopefully here to stay.
The reason I've been reading it again, however, is that of all the P. Djèlí Clark stories I've read I gave this the highest rating. But whenever someone asked me (and also when in fact no one asked me) I always said that The Black God's Drums is my favorite story of his. So, let's have another look.
What can I say? Of course I've been right. This story is great.
Inspired by a short note in an account book by a cousin of George Washington the author spins a tale of how the former president acquired possession of nine teeth of former slaves.
In nine vignettes Clark tells of those people's lives. And in doing so he cleverly and seamlessly blends fantastical elements with historical details, which is sort of his trademark style. The result is a highly imaginative work of fiction that repeatedly lets the reader share small and big moments of triumph with its several protagonists.
And which lets George Washington share something with them too. Something beyond only their teeth.
This story is a winner.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I guess now I have to read The Black God's Drums again.
Link to this story: https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
2023 addendum: And now it's a re-reread, actually. I've been looking for a short story for a friend of mine and this is probably not it. But, personally, I'm still loving it.
March 2, 2026
“When you make a man or woman a slave you enslave yourself in turn. And the souls of those who made thralls of others would never know rest—in this life, or the next.”
A beautiful short piece comprising nine micro-fictions, inspired by George Washington buying the teeth of nine “negroes” for false teeth! Phenderson Djèlí Clark, an African-American writer, imagines the backstory of each, probably unwilling, donor, and how something of each person might have permeated Washington’s being.
Image: George Washington’s dentures (Source)
The writing is lyrical, with a recurring pattern: each of the nine sections starts “The nth Negro tooth belonging to George Washington came from…”, and tells of their background, life, and how they came to Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. It’s respectful of a myriad traditional beliefs, imbuing a dash of magic to the narrative.
I enjoyed the rich variety of characters - the glimpses of their stories, circumstances and personalities. More importantly, it gives voice to the voiceless, and juxtaposing their lives with a powerful man who is relegated to a sentence or two tagged on the end of each story rebalances history a little.
“When George Washington wore Solomon’s tooth, he dreamed of a place of golden spires and colorful glass domes, where Negroes flew through the sky on metal wings like birds and sprawling cities that glowed bright at night were run by machines who thought faster than men. It both awed and frightened him at once.”
Image: Illustration that accompanies the story (see link below)
And yet Clark doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable fact that there were a few Africans who traded their own people. Horror and injustice can only be confronted and repudiated with truth, and that is rarely straightforward. Clark knows and shows that.
See also
• You can read this story HERE.
• Details of George Washington’s teeth, on the Mount Vernon estate’s website, HERE.
• On a more trivial note, see the humorous poem by Pam Ayres, “Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth”. “Me”, rather than “my”, is her rural Oxfordshire dialect, which you can hear, HERE, or just read it for yourself.
A beautiful short piece comprising nine micro-fictions, inspired by George Washington buying the teeth of nine “negroes” for false teeth! Phenderson Djèlí Clark, an African-American writer, imagines the backstory of each, probably unwilling, donor, and how something of each person might have permeated Washington’s being.
Image: George Washington’s dentures (Source)
The writing is lyrical, with a recurring pattern: each of the nine sections starts “The nth Negro tooth belonging to George Washington came from…”, and tells of their background, life, and how they came to Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. It’s respectful of a myriad traditional beliefs, imbuing a dash of magic to the narrative.
I enjoyed the rich variety of characters - the glimpses of their stories, circumstances and personalities. More importantly, it gives voice to the voiceless, and juxtaposing their lives with a powerful man who is relegated to a sentence or two tagged on the end of each story rebalances history a little.
“When George Washington wore Solomon’s tooth, he dreamed of a place of golden spires and colorful glass domes, where Negroes flew through the sky on metal wings like birds and sprawling cities that glowed bright at night were run by machines who thought faster than men. It both awed and frightened him at once.”
Image: Illustration that accompanies the story (see link below)
And yet Clark doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable fact that there were a few Africans who traded their own people. Horror and injustice can only be confronted and repudiated with truth, and that is rarely straightforward. Clark knows and shows that.
See also
• You can read this story HERE.
• Details of George Washington’s teeth, on the Mount Vernon estate’s website, HERE.
• On a more trivial note, see the humorous poem by Pam Ayres, “Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth”. “Me”, rather than “my”, is her rural Oxfordshire dialect, which you can hear, HERE, or just read it for yourself.
December 28, 2020
Oh great, they deleted my - and yours too most likely - review of this short story together with the book! I'm not even pissed anymore, this is just ridiculous. Let's see if they will delete this one.
I loved the shortie.
I loved the shortie.
February 23, 2026
2026 Re-Read @The Short Story Club:
I think I loved it even more this time around. It had a lot more supernatural elements than I recalled. The humour, oh, it just felt masterful to me. I was trying to figure out how Clark did it, but alas, I don't have the skills. I just know it made me laugh out loud.
I think about how many people are closed to looking at history through a more honest and sober lens and how Clark crafted this story to break down those kinds of barriers. The fully dimensional black lives, slavery, magic, comeuppances, and humour - it's such a powerful and delightful combination. I wish it was on every high school curriculum!
----------------------------------------------
2020 Read : 2018 Nebula Award winning story, and I can see why. It's only a 10-15 minute read. Give it a try sometime.
Read for free @ Fireside Magazine - https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
I think I loved it even more this time around. It had a lot more supernatural elements than I recalled. The humour, oh, it just felt masterful to me. I was trying to figure out how Clark did it, but alas, I don't have the skills. I just know it made me laugh out loud.
I think about how many people are closed to looking at history through a more honest and sober lens and how Clark crafted this story to break down those kinds of barriers. The fully dimensional black lives, slavery, magic, comeuppances, and humour - it's such a powerful and delightful combination. I wish it was on every high school curriculum!
----------------------------------------------
2020 Read : 2018 Nebula Award winning story, and I can see why. It's only a 10-15 minute read. Give it a try sometime.
Read for free @ Fireside Magazine - https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
October 11, 2020
I was expecting this story to be emotionally devastating but instead it was a fascinating intellectual exercise. I expected my heart to be shredded and instead my mind was stretched. Apparently, George Washington (our evil first president) purchased teeth from people for his false dentures. This story starts with a quote, “‘By Cash pd Negroes for 9 Teeth on Acct of Dr. Lemoire’ –Lund Washington, Mount Vernon plantation, Account Book dated 1784.” This story explores what the secret lives of the teeth were. I loved this story and it sent me down a rabbit hole about the history behind Washington’s teeth. Check out this article to see a picture of Washington’s dentures and to learn more about the history of false teeth. This was fantastic and I still think it should have won the Hugo. Arrrr!
March 24, 2021
This is a brilliant short story. You can read this for free here.
All thanks to the Queen of Murderous Crustaceans for her short yet scrumptious review and for the link.
All thanks to the Queen of Murderous Crustaceans for her short yet scrumptious review and for the link.
November 13, 2020
That was such a clever framing device to tell the story of nine slaves. Perhaps more importantly to show that George Washington, a founding father of the "Home of the FREE and the Brave" was a slave owner himself. Yes, he freed his slaves upon his death as the story also says, but there were 67 years of slave owning before that!
I also learned a fantastic new word.
con·san·guin·i·ty
/ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinədē/
noun
the fact of being descended from the same ancestor.
"the marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity"
I also learned a fantastic new word.
con·san·guin·i·ty
/ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinədē/
noun
the fact of being descended from the same ancestor.
"the marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity"
April 2, 2021
📚
Free short story from Fireside Magazine
📚
I was going to write a full review for this one but then I figured it would probably end up beingridiculously longer than the story itself so I won't. Lucky you and stuff 🥳🥳.
You should read this short because:
① It’s free. But you might have already read that up there ↑↑. Perhaps.
② It won the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Short Story. Not that this guarantees greatness but it helps. Sometimes.
③ The art is slightly scrumptious:
④ It is a truth universally acknowledged that P. Djèlí Clark is a conjuror of lusciously imaginative worlds and deliciously compelling narratives.
⑤ I said so. (Which is the only reason you need, really.)
↪ Quick maths time: ① + ② + ③ + ④ + ⑤ =
[Pre-review nonsense]
Well that was Slightly Very Good (SVG™) indeed.
Review to come and stuff.
I was going to write a full review for this one but then I figured it would probably end up being
You should read this short because:
① It’s free. But you might have already read that up there ↑↑. Perhaps.
② It won the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Short Story. Not that this guarantees greatness but it helps. Sometimes.
③ The art is slightly scrumptious:
④ It is a truth universally acknowledged that P. Djèlí Clark is a conjuror of lusciously imaginative worlds and deliciously compelling narratives.
⑤ I said so. (Which is the only reason you need, really.)
↪ Quick maths time: ① + ② + ③ + ④ + ⑤ =
[Pre-review nonsense]
Well that was Slightly Very Good (SVG™) indeed.
Review to come and stuff.
February 16, 2026
This was so good and gave me goosebumps at the end. This is where PDC's background as a historian really shines. I kind of want to read a book about all these secret lives, even one about each. There is a lot of richness and layers and I love how in so few pages, the author manages to create portraits of complex people, who interact with slavery in very nuanced ways. There's a cursed former slaver who participated in the trading of his people, for instance, but also a magical blacksmith used to create shackles for his kin.
There's so much history, mythology and commentary on the relationship and dynamics of extraction: bodies, potential, creativity, skill, futures. There's resistance and complicity and everything in between.
You can read it here.
There's so much history, mythology and commentary on the relationship and dynamics of extraction: bodies, potential, creativity, skill, futures. There's resistance and complicity and everything in between.
You can read it here.
February 25, 2026
Nine fantastic back-stories about teeth acquired by one George Washington. Each of these teeth has a story, a background, a rich history, an inner life.
Imbued with magic realism, this short work plunges in many directions — mythology, history, fantasy, self-determination, sorcery, and so on, while also commenting on the nebulous concepts of "property" and "properties."
An unusual and unique short story.
Imbued with magic realism, this short work plunges in many directions — mythology, history, fantasy, self-determination, sorcery, and so on, while also commenting on the nebulous concepts of "property" and "properties."
An unusual and unique short story.
December 1, 2020
It's incredible what P. Djèlí Clark develops from a tiny footnote in history. Yes, George Washington did buy 9 teeth for 122 shillings and had trouble with his teeth. And then goes P. Djèlí Clark and builds up 9 flash fiction stories full of emotions, privilege, enslavement and racism. The world depicted is an alternate reality with magic, mermen and time travel, but that doesn't dillute the emotional distress that history (and this story) has on its back. Yes, our menial privileged actions do contain an emotional cost.
I also liked that the 9 flash fiction stories were really diverse and really different, with highlights on the Ulysses one (who re-tells Circe turning Odysseus men into pigs) and I also liked the SF-esque time-travel/alternate reality one (Solomon), with a melancholy heroine that makes you raise your fist in the air.
P. Djèlí Clark is a must-read. His work is amazing at all levels.
I also liked that the 9 flash fiction stories were really diverse and really different, with highlights on the Ulysses one (who re-tells Circe turning Odysseus men into pigs) and I also liked the SF-esque time-travel/alternate reality one (Solomon), with a melancholy heroine that makes you raise your fist in the air.
P. Djèlí Clark is a must-read. His work is amazing at all levels.
October 20, 2020
P. Djèlí Clark has been on my radar for a little while now and I'm glad I stumbled upon this short story this morning. I have a few more stories lined up in the near future, which I'm now that much more excited to read! The attention to detail was fantastic here.
February 21, 2026
Top shelf tale. Wonderfully imaginative, and startlingly appropriate for the times. Brilliant!
December 23, 2020
I love the casual mix of supernatural elements into the story. Imaginative and well written. Not quite a ghost story, not quite historical fiction.
Can be read for free here: https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
Beautiful artwork at Fireside Magazine, where the story was originally published.
PS: This must be the third time I have put up this review, because GR keeps deleting this short story. Or maybe I posted it under the heading for fireside magazine? Who knows...
2018 Nebula Award Winner / Hugo Award Nominee / Short Story — Well worth it.
Can be read for free here: https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
Beautiful artwork at Fireside Magazine, where the story was originally published.
PS: This must be the third time I have put up this review, because GR keeps deleting this short story. Or maybe I posted it under the heading for fireside magazine? Who knows...
2018 Nebula Award Winner / Hugo Award Nominee / Short Story — Well worth it.
February 3, 2022
This is my favorite short story ever written.
Its perfection and I LOVE it💜🥰
Its perfection and I LOVE it💜🥰
July 10, 2020
I really enjoyed it, especially the mix of supernatural with the historical context. It’s important that the use of slave’s teeth in GW’s dentures is being told and the truth of history is being shared and this was such a good way to do it. There is also the element of heartbreaking eeriness that I just really think takes the story to the next level on top of the supernatural elements that builds further on the tragic narrative of slavery and how humanity failed and how truly evil and heartbreakingly sad it was and is.
April 2, 2021
Sarah told me to read this
I've been meaning to read a P. Djèlí Clark story, and this was a perfect opportunity to get a taste of his writing. Much impressed was I. A very unique and interesting way to insert fantasy into history.
Now I'm inspired to read The Haunting of Tram Car 015 that's been sitting in my kindle.
August 31, 2021
Recommend to read this piece of speculative fiction together with the author's blog post about it 'On Slavery, Magic, and the Negro Teeth of George Washington'.
October 17, 2021
oh this is really good. read it here!
March 3, 2026
Succinct & powerful.
August 21, 2020
This story won the Nebula Best Short Story 2018 Prize. It tells the 9 stories behind the 9 teeth which are the subject of an entry (I suppose real entry) in a plantation account book. Each is a fantastical tale of their owner's life. Each is embued with magic, sorcery, and two words I had to look up 'thaumturgical' (Having, brought about by, or relating to supernatural powers or magic) and 'obeah' (a kind of sorcery practised especially in the Caribbean). Each tooth has a mysterious effect on its purchaser, one George Washington.
First thing I have read by this author, and am now on the hunt for more.
First thing I have read by this author, and am now on the hunt for more.
December 3, 2020
A lot of great ideas and research clearly went into this story. It's very well-written and I was intrigued by basically all the characters. Unfortunately, the format read like a particularly fascinating newspaper article, and I found it hard to get very invested in the characters because by the time I was becoming accustomed to one, the story moved on to the next, thus the emotional impact wasn't quite there. It just wasn't a very satisfying story, in my opinion, though I applaud the author's creativity.
3 stars.
3 stars.
December 10, 2021
"For the blacksmith understood what masters had chosen to forget: when you make a man or woman a slave you enslave yourself in turn."
Thought provoking, well written and unique. Unfortunately, the format of 9 short stories crammed into a single short story felt like it was missing something. Some of the stories were quite good, while others felt a bit bland. My favorites might be the cook, the slave trader and Solomon.
Thought provoking, well written and unique. Unfortunately, the format of 9 short stories crammed into a single short story felt like it was missing something. Some of the stories were quite good, while others felt a bit bland. My favorites might be the cook, the slave trader and Solomon.
November 24, 2020
This writing just enchants me. This was an extremely clever short story - the mix of magical elements with history is well crafted and the effects the teeth had on Washington made me chuckle. It was very thought provoking, and the writing makes each small piece of the story so easy to picture.
April 16, 2022
Brilliantly original and interesting, just like all of Clark's work.
May 24, 2025
This novella was brilliant. I was left speechless and floored as I read on and on and on. P. Djèlí Clark is such a genius and his work proves that. This was absolutely incredible and to Mr. Clark, thank you.
August 4, 2021
Dins Freakcions núm. 6
February 26, 2026
A fascinating, amazingly well-written short story that imagines the voices, histories, cultures and agency of a group of Black people that mainstream history otherwise reduces down to a single body part.
May 6, 2021
Contrary to what we are taught in school George Washington's dentures were not entirely made of wood. Nine of his teeth were taken from enslaved Africans. Clark created a beautiful short fictional and sometimes supernatural story of each of the nine people whose teeth ended up in Washington's mouth. These stories were filled with sorrow, racism, enslavement, resistance, resilience, magic, and beauty. I cannot stop gushing over how much I love P. Djèlí's writing mixing elements of history with science fiction and fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews