Access Today An African American And Latinx History Of The United States (REVISIONING HISTORY Book 4) Scripted By Paul Ortiz Compiled As EText
has a long history of promoting democracy and human rights, but also denying those basic rights to AfricanAmericans and Latinx people.
While there are a lot of histories that look at the history of both AfricanAmericans and Latinx people as oppressed groups, nearly all of them treat each group separately.
While there is great value in doing so, it does leave out the ways in which both groups supported each others fight for freedom and democratic rights and also implicitly perpetuates the false narrative that
these two groups struggles are distinct from each other.
In this incredible examination of American history from the point of view of both groups, Dr, Ortiz links both of their struggles for freedom and shows how America has too often been on the wrong side of history and freedom not just in America, but in its dealings with the Americas too.
For my full review, check out my book blog sitelinkhere,.rounded up
Like the other books in this series, this book offers a somewhat broad overview of the intersections of African American and Latinx interests in the struggle against white supremacist capitalist systems within the Americans.
I found this one to be a more dense read than some of the others, and it suffers from similar issues in trying to cover a lot of information in relatively little space, so some events are merely mentioned, some are more detailed, and transitions are a bit abrupt, but that's sort of the gig when trying to give an overview on such a vast subject.
Interesting starting point, and lots of topics to explore further in more specific books, Much like An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, this book is part of the ReVisioning American History series.
Having just finished the former, I was stoked to see the latter on Edelweiss available for download and review, and immediately snapped it up.
This book covers the American Revolution through to present day, and covers everything from the juxtaposition of the American Revolution with the Haitian Revolution the Civil War and Reconstruction Jim Crow and Juan Crow laws the New Deal and its aim at creating specifically a white middle class and across the board, emancipatory internationalism.
Emancipatory internationalism was a new term for me, and I'm kind of in love with it now.
I know I'm a bit late to the game on that one, . . Essentially, my understanding is that this pairs internationalism basically the opposite of insular nationalism, and the idea that we're all global citizens with emancipation, and the belief that freedom is not possessed by any nation to give or take away from others.
There were a number of larger takeaways, other than being truly schooled in aspects and viewpoints of history that were never covered in my public school education.
It's truly a book and a series, at least the ones I've read so far that must be read to be truly appreciated.
But here are the takeaways for me, in no particular order:
The true realization that our country was NEVER authentically predicated on the idea of success and equality for everyone.
Intellectually, I understood the concept, but don't think that I have come quite so facetoface with the reality until I started diving deeper into history books not written by white men.
This quote from the book really brings it home: "Inequality in American life today is not the result of abstract market forces, nor is it the consequence of the nowdiscredited 'culture of poverty' thesis.
From the outset, inequality was enforced with the whip, the gun, and the United States Constitution, "
The idea of American exceptionalism like most ideas of exceptionalism is a harmful lie, It's been harmful in the past, it continues to be harmful now, "Make America Great Again" is a prime example,
How much all of our movements owe to other movements across the globe, This relates back to that whole emancipatory internationalism thing,
It feels like we are nowhere, So many of the things that were included in this book are events that could have happened yesterday.
And it's fucking exhausting to think about,
The system being stacked against African American and Latinx people of color, especially when it comes to socioeconomics, and specifically how that leads to continued disadvantage, is one of the most frustrating things, and a concept with which a lot of people have a hard time.
Personally, my dad is one of them, I've tried to explain to him the concept behind reparations and the lack of inherited wealth, but for someone who came from a lower middleclass background, who didn't inherit actual money when his father died, explaining where that "inherited wealth" comes into his privilege is a frustrating endeavor for both of us.
Black women have always been the harbingers and drivers of justice movements, FOLLOW BLACK WOMEN. ELECT BLACK WOMEN. SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN.
Definitely snag this book when it's released, It's important and relevant and vital, I was never terribly good at history because it always seemed to have a strange emphasis on things I didnt care to learn about, but this is a fantastic historical lesson on things that I should have learned about.
Really good synopsis of how Black and Brown people similarly struggle against racial capitalism, If you ever want a book that shows just how much organizing and unionizing has helped us, read this book.
Comes with tons of citations for further reading too, Books like this are very important, for they shine a most valuable light on those corners of history that we tend to miss.
And any time you look at history from the perspective of the oppressed and despised you are bound to come away with a new orientation.
That orientation is explored here to great effect by Paul Ortiz who deftly demonstrates how African Americans were engaged in freedom struggles beyond their own.
The former enslaved joined with Mexicans in their struggle to throw off the rule of Spain and were instrumental in Cubas independence.
“The Cuban solidarity campaign launched by Black antislavery abolitionists in the heart of Reconstruction was one of the most remarkable social movements in American history.
In placing the liberation of Cuba on the same platform with their desperate struggle for equal citizenship in the United States, African Americans from Key West to California created a new kind of freedom movement.
” Mr. Ortiz has painstakingly researched this book, if the abundance of notes are any indication and readers will be duly enriched by engaging this text.
What Paul Ortiz makes abundantly clear is the lie of American exceptionalism,
“In a time of increasing diversity, it might be tempting to look beyond the blackwhite framework that structures race relations and social and economic opportunity.
To the contrary, as other racial minorities grow, it becomes increasingly important to address the fundamental question of fairness for African Americans, which affects the fortunes of the other groups.
The blackwhite economic and social divide created by slavery and cemented through years of servitude and subjugation has endured and helped shape America.
”
How is it possible to write, “all men are created equal” while simultaneously holding people in bondage This book is a correction of sorts to the prevailing and popular history that is held in the collective consciousness of America, “historians shrouded the countrys history in a veil of innocence and exceptionalism, which has undermined the nations ability to reform itself to this day.
” There are many lessons to avail oneself of, from the Haitian revolution to present day, where a look at the modern worker and the struggle for a fair and living wage takes center stage.
The change of narrative will be helpful in changing the US and how it is perceived amongst its citizens.
“If American exceptionalism is a harmful fable, then what do we replace it with We can begin by continuing to learn more about ordinary peoples capacity to create democracy in action.
” And he has done a great job of demonstrating that capacity in these pages, Thanks to Edelweiss and Beacon Press for a DRC, Book is on sale now, .