Poet, journalist, and broadcaster Harriot (The Situation in South Carolina) pens a corrective retelling of United States history, highlighting the contributions, accomplishments, and experiences of Black and Indigenous people. This incisive account is peppered with heartwarming stories of his own family’s experiences, from lighthearted events to real-life injustices. Harriot exposes hypocrisy with humor, easing the pain a bit as he rips off the nation’s band-aid. Narrating this work himself, the author has conversations with members of his family as well as a “Racist Baby” (drawn from his opinion column at The Root). The Racist Baby dialogues break down long-standing misconceptions about the Lost Cause, Confederate monuments, and the real meaning of reparations. Listeners may feel that Harriot is speaking to them personally, removing barriers and artifice while revealing historical facts that provide much more context than the United States’ traditional origin story. It doesn’t stop there; Harriot breaks down history from 1619 to the present, opening listeners’ eyes to new truths about what is needed to move forward. VERDICT A stimulating, deeply researched history that is simultaneously entertaining and heartbreaking. Harriot’s self-narrated work is an essential purchase for all audio history collections.