An African American and Latinx History of the United States

Paul Ortiz's An African American and Latinx History of the United States reconstructs American history through the interconnected experiences and resistance movements of African American and Latinx peoples. The book spans from the late 1700s to the present day, examining crucial moments like the Haitian Revolution and the Mexican War of Independence. Through eight chapters, Ortiz documents how these communities formed alliances and organized against racial capitalism, imperialism, and systemic oppression. The narrative connects movements across the Americas, demonstrating how liberation struggles in the United States linked to broader international resistance efforts. Drawing on extensive research and primary sources, the book centers voices and perspectives traditionally excluded from mainstream historical accounts. The work earned Ortiz the 2018 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award and sparked discussions about historical interpretation in academic circles. This reimagining of United States history challenges conventional nationalist narratives by highlighting the role of African American and Latinx peoples in shaping democracy and social justice movements. The book presents a framework for understanding American history as fundamentally shaped by cross-cultural solidarity and resistance.

Readers describe this as an alternative perspective on US history that centers Black and Latinx resistance movements and international solidarity. Many note it fills gaps in traditional history education. Readers appreciated: - Clear connections between different social movements - Focus on lesser-known historical figures and events - Documentation and extensive source citations - Accessible writing style for non-academics Common criticisms: - Some sections feel rushed or oversimplified - More Latin American history needed - Writing can be repetitive - Too brief coverage of certain time periods Ratings: Goodreads: 4.34/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (300+ ratings) Representative review: "Ortiz shows how revolutionary movements didn't happen in isolation but were interconnected across borders. This isn't taught in schools." - Goodreads reviewer Critical review: "Important perspective but tries to cover too much ground in too few pages, leading to some oversimplification." - Amazon reviewer

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★ The book challenges the traditional "origin story" of the United States by revealing how the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) directly influenced American democracy and civil rights movements. ★ Author Paul Ortiz serves as Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and is a Professor of History at the University of Florida, where he specializes in African American history, Latino studies, and oral history. ★ The term "racial capitalism," central to the book's framework, was pioneered by scholar Cedric Robinson to describe how racism and capitalism have evolved together as intertwined forces throughout history. ★ The book won the 2018 PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Literary Award for its contribution to multicultural literature and advancement of human rights. ★ The work documents how Mexican miners in the 1880s helped establish labor rights that benefited both Latino and African American workers, demonstrating early instances of cross-racial solidarity in American labor movements.