Jenna’s review of Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America > Likes and Comments

A witty review!

You might also like:
_Mayflower_
_Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee_.

I still have no idea what Canadian Thanksgiving is about. Do you?

I love this review, Jenna! After reading Philbrick's Mayflower, I really opened my eyes even more than ever before. This book sounds excellent, and I want to read it too.

LiLi wrote: "A witty review!

You might also like:
_Mayflower_
_Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee_.

I still have no idea what Canadian Thanksgiving is about. Do you?"

Thank you, LiLi! I've had "Bury My Heart..." on my mental tbr shelf for eons and you've reminded me I need to make time for it.

From what I read on Wikipedia (I had no idea until today what it was about either):
Canadian Thanksgiving was officially declared a holiday in 1957 by the Governor General, saying it was "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed..."

Thanksgiving had been celebrated before then though and corresponds to the British and continental European harvest festival though it was, in different years, used to commemorate the end of the War of 1812 and the end of the Lower Canada Rebellion, and to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness".

They seem to celebrate it in much the same way as United Statians, including eating the same foods.

Candi wrote: "I love this review, Jenna! After reading Philbrick's Mayflower, I really opened my eyes even more than ever before. This book sounds excellent, and I want to read it too."

Glad you enjoyed it, Candi, and glad you want to read the book too! It feels freeing to learn the truth, doesn't it, after being fed a diet of fairy tales growing up.

Jenna wrote: "Candi wrote: "I love this review, Jenna! After reading Philbrick's Mayflower, I really opened my eyes even more than ever before. This book sounds excellent, and I want to read it too."

Glad you e..."

For sure, Jenna! I'm not a fan of living in fairy tale land!

If this book is half as good as your review, I'm in.

Excellent review, Jenna. I guess that Squanto book from childhood is not historically accurate?

Great review as always Jenna!

Entertaining review, Jenna. I will own up to being a history nerd. But there are some elements of history - the honest version - that are better accepted and digested when they are not force-fed to the reader. IOW, the author’s tone can be enormously helpful in delivering a message that may be unpalatable or contrary to received wisdom. And it sounds like this book has plenty to offer even to those of us already familiar with the broad strokes of his topic. Thus, adding to the groaning TBR.

The truth will set you free! And what about that Sister Tharpe?! Loved your synopsis.

Diane wrote: "If this book is half as good as your review, I'm in."

The author uses the same tongue-in-cheek sort of humor, Diane, so you should enjoy the book too!

Daniel wrote: "Excellent review, Jenna. I guess that Squanto book from childhood is not historically accurate?"

Sadly, Daniel, I doubt it 😂

Caroline wrote: "Great review as always Jenna!"

Thanks, Caroline!

Barbara K. wrote: "Entertaining review, Jenna. I will own up to being a history nerd. But there are some elements of history - the honest version - that are better accepted and digested when they are not force-fed to..."

I enjoy some sorts of historical account -like all those polar expeditions we're both fond of- but I think I got a bad taste for history in school, where it was just learning a bunch of dates, places, and names.

It's certainly more entertaining to learn about when 1. it's honest and 2. it's delivered in a fun way.

Sorry about your groaning tbr that another book just got placed on.... how can we ever catch up?!

Judith wrote: "The truth will set you free! And what about that Sister Tharpe?! Loved your synopsis."

Thanks, Judith, and yeh, Sister Tharpe! I watched a few of her videos yesterday, she really gets ya moving.

Entertaining review as ever Jenna. Less whitewashing and more truth for me!

donno a tad bitter to my taste. The truth need not be made over ugly to be the truth.

Is it just possible that one reason why the Europeans found so many tribes and so few nations, was that the older invaders were not so purely peaceful? not even towards each other?

Are we sure that a people not known to have ever baked a cookie would look at Europeans and think: "sugar cookie".

The re writing is long over due ( and is more than just started) and it will take some painful introspection, bu is the best way there via nastiness?

Maureen wrote: "Entertaining review as ever Jenna. Less whitewashing and more truth for me!"

Thanks, Maureen, and me too!

Phrodrick wrote: "donno a tad bitter to my taste. The truth need not be made over ugly to be the truth.

Is it just possible that one reason why the Europeans found so many tribes and so few nations, was that the ol..."

"The truth need not be made over ugly to be the truth."

Have you looked at history and its ugliness? It's ugly all on its own, my friend. And yes there was violence on the part of indigenous peoples but we don't rewrite history to make them seem like saints where they weren't.

This review is satire. Of course they didn't look at white people and think "sugar cookies". I'm poking a little fun at us white people. I'm sorry if you can't take a joke, but not sorry for anything I wrote.

Phrodrick wrote: "donno a tad bitter to my taste. The truth need not be made over ugly to be the truth.

Is it just possible that one reason why the Europeans found so many tribes and so few nations, was that the ol..."

Also, I'm white. I'm assuming you think I'm a person of color that you called me bitter. Even if I was a POC and this wasn't satire, I would have every right to be bitter without a white person telling me I should be nicer and see the good in white people and that racism would go away if only Black people weren't so bitter about the past and how they're still treated.....

Interesting. You get to make supposition about me and in supposing you know anything about me,you conclude that my comments have be wrong. I never said a thing about what you should or should not see in white people. I will now suggest that people are capable of a wide spectrum of behaviors, none growing purely out of pigmentation.

My point is simple.
Using the most argumentative language is part of what got, certainly the US and not just the US into an us vs them stupidity.

1. The re telling of history has been underway for years. It is past time to pretend to be shocked that older national stories are due for re examination. Again,that re examination is well underway.
2. Saying your say in the ugliest manner does not make you that much more sincere. That was a process that seems to have started in shock radio and became the bread and butter of a certain, for the moment unnamed political pundit.

My suggestion is not about what you or anyone has a right to feel . Everybody has strong and deeply held feelings.
Public discord must either become less ugly or it will as it has has become more violent.

Bottom line:
At what point is the need to move forward absent violence, more important than the urge to be ugly?

Thank you for your review. It sums up the Thanksgiving history that many people are still unaware of.

Phrodrick wrote: "Interesting. You get to make supposition about me and in supposing you know anything about me,you conclude that my comments have be wrong. I never said a thing about what you should or should not s..."

I don't get why you think satire is ugly, Phrodrick. It is my brand of humor and you are not obligated to read my reviews if you don't like satire (I use it in many reviews).

You have valid points and I agree with you on some things, but you're missing the point of this review. It's not meant to be ugly and I don't think most people would find it ugly, or bitter, certainly not the people who know me and and get my very dry and satirical sense of humor.

As for what you wrote about the re-telling of history being underway for many years - when a vast majority of United Statians still believe the myth, then it doesn't matter if there have been historians uncovering the truth "for many years".

The majority of people are not scholars. I read oraciously and I was unaware of any unwhitewashed histories being written [prior to a few years ago.

Lisa wrote: "Thank you for your review. It sums up the Thanksgiving history that many people are still unaware of."

Thanks for your comment, Lisa. Hopefully this will change and it's a good thing books like this are being published to help educate us (or those of us who read anyway).

I knew the gist of the above, but the way you've put it together is excellent. Your final sentence is especially important (but you know that, and I daresay a few critics will ignore it).

I had a great time reading your description of the book. You are quite cheeky yourself, Jenna!

Cecily wrote: "I knew the gist of the above, but the way you've put it together is excellent. Your final sentence is especially important (but you know that, and I daresay a few critics will ignore it)."

Thanks, Cecily! I like to add a bit of fun but unfortunately some people will just get offended. You're right, that last sentence is so important but unfortunately critics will ignore it. Some people think any criticism is all-encompassing, they only see in black and white.

German people can be proud of their German heritage while still being horrified by the Holocaust. Likewise, Americans can be proud of being American while still admitting to the atrocities our ancestors committed (I don't think I personally had any ancestors here before the late 19th century but that's beside the point).

switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "I had a great time reading your description of the book. You are quite cheeky yourself, Jenna!"

I'm glad you enjoyed it, switterbug! And yes, I'm a bit cheeky 😂

Jenna, don't stop doing what you do! Opening people's eyes is a good thing :)

switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "Jenna, don't stop doing what you do! Opening people's eyes is a good thing :)"

I agree, Switterbug! Life is so much richer when viewed with open eyes!

Love your review, Jenna! An important book, and important review. I learned plenty from it!

Rowan wrote: "Love your review, Jenna! An important book, and important review. I learned plenty from it!"

Thanks, Rowan, I'm glad you enjoyed it and learned some things!

Good one Jenna, have to read this one. Thanks.

John wrote: "Good one Jenna, have to read this one. Thanks."

Thanks, Gilbert!

Once again, a most entertaining review, Jenna, for what sounds like a most informative book!

Debbie wrote: "Once again, a most entertaining review, Jenna, for what sounds like a most informative book!"

Thanks, Debbie, and yes! It's very informative!

This is another one of your reviews that made me laugh! Thanks Jenna!

Fantastic review! Satire has been used for centuries to express points of view unpalatable to others. I think the ancestors are whispering to me. First I just saw the movie Killers Of The Flower Moon then this review. Ok maybe not a whisper more like an enthusiastic shout? Anyway thanks to you this book is on my must read NOW list. I can't wait to let people know about it! In today's culture of book banning it's incumbent that we, the people afflicted with VRS (Voracious Reading Syndrome), spread the good word of books rather than focusing on the style of a review. Oh and if anyone cares I'm a Black female retired teacher with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree. PS - Jenna I love your style. You go girrll !

Numidica wrote: "This is another one of your reviews that made me laugh! Thanks Jenna!"

Thanks, Numidica; I'm glad it made you laugh!

Brangela wrote: "Fantastic review! Satire has been used for centuries to express points of view unpalatable to others. I think the ancestors are whispering to me. First I just saw the movie Killers Of The Flower Mo..."

Thank you, Brangela; I'm glad you enjoyed it! Since you like my style, you're going to love Michael Harriot's too. He's very tongue in cheek as well. He had me rolling at times even when it was stuff that simultaneously made me angry (not at him, at the white people who were doing such evil and despicable things). He's a terrific writer.

I agree with you that it's up to us to "spread the good word of books", and especially when they're controversial or there are people trying to ban them. How else will all the non-readers learn about all the things we readers are privileged to learn about if we don't tell them?

Also, I love your syndrome for us voracious readers 😂

Super review, Jenna, and informative to boot!
I assumed the US Thanksgiving was celebrated because of the munificence of the Almighty God *cough* towards its selected citizens, but from your review, there seems to be much more to it than that. Well done, you! 😆😆

Terence M - [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] wrote: "Super review, Jenna, and informative to boot!
I assumed the US Thanksgiving was celebrated because of the munificence of the Almighty God *cough* towards its selected citizens, but from your review..."

Thanks, Terence! Oh, it's a about "Almighty God" too because this is god's chosen country and special and blah blah blah 😂 As though some superior being would just hand someone else's land over to a group of thieves and soon-to-be enslavers, blessing them for being such moral and good people.... cough, cough, cough

Thank you Jenna for this sadly swept under the rug Thanksgiving truth. That's why we, (my fam) make the most out of this day being so thankful and celebrating our traditions and truths. I am about to start this book. My husband just finished Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and came away so enlightened and it's certainly on my tbr shelf with the other 379 books I want to read before I leave was leave this earth.

Sharon wrote: "Thank you Jenna for this sadly swept under the rug Thanksgiving truth. That's why we, (my fam) make the most out of this day being so thankful and celebrating our traditions and truths. I am about ..."

I hope you and your family had a wonderful day today, Sharon, celebrating your "traditions and truths" (I love that!).

I hope you will enjoy this book; it's one of my favorites this year. It's easier to read than "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" because Michael Harriot writes in an often fun and funny way.

Jacob wrote: "You're an idiot and the target demographic of this POS book."

That is some harsh and brilliant criticism, Jacob. I am crying in my soup. 🙄

I love you review so much! Thank you

Brilliant review! Reading this one now—hilarious, but so sad.

Imagine liking this anti-white drivel.

Chris N. you wrote the following goofy and ignorant comment, "Imagine liking this anti-white drivel.". What that tells everyone is that you have not read it, are intimidated by the subject matter and predictably prejudged it as "anti-white" because of your ignorance, fear, feelings of delusional "supremacy" and likely illiteracy prevents you from learning anything. That's too bad because your ignorance of America's actual history is PRECISELY why we haven't progressed and moved forward as a society that lives up to its principles.

Congrats for identifying yourself as being willfully ignorant, uneducated and part of the problem.

Jenna, I loved your response to Jacob. The willfully ignorant are so easily triggered. lol