Book Riot Read Harder Challenge #4: Read a history book by a BIPOC author.

Hidden histories are both a terrible and fascinating thing. They are the histories of those who did not write the history books. They are the stories of those who are often left out of the historical record all together.

You have heard of the above saying or some iteration of it. That those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. This saying can be true. For example, if you ate peanut butter when you were five and had to be rushed to the hospital only to eat peanut butter again when you were ten. This saying is not as apt when the history has been suppressed or, like this author experienced while trying to research this topic, literally hidden in a vault where no one is allowed to look at it because it would probably make them look like big ole racists.

When you are unable to discover something in the historical record, it makes you wonder whether it became lost to time or if it was deliberately destroyed to avoid making the participants look like terrible people.

An example of this is the narrative that enslaved Africans just strolled onto the boats and chilled there until they either made it to America or died on the voyage. This could not be farther from the truth. There are so many stories of revolts. Of these people risking death to save themselves and those around them and of them continually being underestimated. Whether on plantations, in towns, or on the ships, there are stories of women-led revolts. These women were smart, strong, capable people that do not deserve to be lost to time. Historians like Rebecca Hall ensure that they won’t be.

Read their histories through the link below or through your local library.