How Black History Can Save Your Life: From the Talk to George Floyd, Everything You Need to Know to Deescalate a Racist Situation (Black History Book for Adults)

by Ernest Crim

Overview

Black History's Power to Combat Racism

How Black History Can Save Your Life by Ernest Crim III, a hate crime survivor and Anti-Racist Educator, is an essential guide for anyone seeking to combat interpersonal racism, understand the roots of discrimination, and gain actionable strategies through Black historical narratives. This black history book for adults book empowers individuals, parents, and educators with tools to challenge racism and foster equity in their communities.

Shortlisted for The New York Times Bestsellers

#1 New Release in African American Demographic Studies and in Black & African American Biographies

Using Black history to fight racism. This book builds on Crim's personal experiences, including a viral 2016 hate crime incident that profoundly shaped his career. During a night out, Crim was targeted with racial slurs, but instead of letting it defeat him, he used the situation to highlight the pervasive nature of racism in America. He captured the moment on video, sparking a national conversation about the importance of confronting and addressing discrimination.

Reclaiming the stories of Black history. Crim delves deep into the stories of Black excellence, resistance, and perseverance. He equips families, parents, and educators with the tools they need to combat racism in everyday life and within schools. Through his lens as a parent and former teacher, Crim demonstrates how the untold stories of Black history hold the keys to understanding the roots of racism and how it can be untaught. Drawing on his two bestsellers—Black History Saved My Life and The ABCs of Affirming Black Children—Crim teaches readers how to deconstruct racist systems and foster equitable practices in their communities.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Strategies to de-escalate and combat interpersonal racism in everyday situations.
• Tools for parents and educators to address racism in schools and educate children through an equitable lens.
• Inspiring Black history stories that provide a blueprint for resilience and empowerment in the face of discrimination.

If you liked The Color of Law, Stamped from the Beginning, or Seven Sisters and a Brother, you’ll love How Black History Can Save Your Life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684817320
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	03/25/2025
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Ernest Crim III is an Anti-Racist Educator and hate crime survivor who uses  historical examples from the black community to empower and educate families and train educators through an equitable lens. Mr. Crim, a south side of Chicago native and University of Illinois graduate, is a former high school history educator of 12 years, who now teaches Black History to the world through social media with a platform that reaches over 2 million people monthly. Additionally, he is the CEO of Crim’s Cultural Consulting LLC, an international speaker, an author of two bestsellers (‘Black History Saved My Life’ and ‘The ABCS of Affirming Black Children’; self-published, 11, 000 copies sold - lifetime) and a passionate progressive education activist, who has been featured on ABC, WGN, PBS, CBS, NBC & Newsweek, amongst various other outlets. To Ernest, his purpose is to creatively strategize how we can use our past to create a better future, entrenched in equitable practices. He lives in Chicago.

Read an Excerpt

I stood there with the phone in my hand, trembling, with my left fist balled, teeth clenched, sweating profusely, trying to register what had just happened. I started off recording a racist barrage of “niggers,” but never did it occur to me that this would escalate to her spitting on my wife and me. I looked down to ensure the phone was still recording. I looked to my left and noticed that my wife had a similar expression. Dejection, sorrow and infuriation were worn like a mask on October 31st. I began to look around, wondering if anyone would come to our aid. Then I realized that the cornhole game was situated away from the larger crowd. We were isolated. I felt alone. What should I do? If I reacted the way I wanted, would anyone believe me? Would anyone support me? Would the security guards in the distance even come to my aid or would they assume I was the one who initiated such a heinous criminal act? It was a perfect metaphor for life as a Black man and woman in America. A white woman harassed and assaulted us, and no one came to our aid and so it persisted. The only people in the vicinity were her two black friends, who defended her “nigger” barrage and a white female friend who stayed in the back, as if to symbolize that it wasn’t her problem to deal with...

Table of Contents

Preface, 2024

Introduction

Part I

Chapter 1…when I was told I was bad

Chapter 2…when I wanted my friends to sleep over

Chapter 3…when I wanted breakfast

Chapter 4…when I was on my way to the White House

Chapter 5…when he was told to go back

Chapter 6…when I was cute for a Black guy

Part II

Chapter 7…when I was acting white

Chapter 8…when I was driving while Black

Chapter 9…when Aaron taught me

Chapter 10…when I was first called nigger

Chapter 11…when Ghetto Bros and Big Booty Hoes partied

Chapter 12…when he changed his name from Gerald to Abdul

Chapter 13…when Jena 6 happened

Chapter 14…when Tupac was wrong

Part III

Chapter 15…when I noticed white-on-Black crime

Chapter 16…when it kept happening again, and again, and again

Chapter 17…when the hate was inherited

Chapter 18…when we had another Red Summer

Chapter 19…when I was faced with a hate crime

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Works Cited

Editorial Reviews

Spectacular! I’ve been following Brother Ernest Crim and his phenomenal posts for years, educating the community about Black history and events that happened in our country on topics that I never knew about or even considered before! After reading the pages of this book I can honestly say he’s continued his legacy of excellence through education! Not only will the information he provided build you up and reinforce your understanding of self in a world designed to break you down, but his words will also broaden your understanding of your past, present, and future. Not to mention, it can truly save your life!”

—Mo’Nique, Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, executive producer, and bestselling author

“In How Black History Can Save Your Life, Ernest Crim III takes readers on a journey through his life, blending personal stories with untold lessons from Black history. With great insight and wisdom, Crim offers practical tools to navigate tough conversations about race and identity, inspiring hope and meaningful change. This book is a powerful guide to using history’s lessons to thrive today.”

—Kimberly Latrice Jones, New York Times bestselling author of I’m Not Dying With You Tonight

“Ernest Crim’s story is both urgent and indispensable. To overlook his story is to ignore a fundamental reality of our society—one that, if left unaddressed, threatens not just some, but all of us.”

—Joy DeGruy, author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

“It is a very personal, readable, and accessible tool for my ever-evolving awakening to the other America, where a walk in the park with your wife on a perfect summer afternoon can turn ugly in an instant. I have grandsons who will grow up perceived as Black; this feels like required reading for me. Their journey will likely parallel Ernest’s journey, but if we get our head out of the sand, it will be a softer ride. Check it out.”

—Larry Andersen, producer of PBS documentary Divided We Fall

“How Black History Can Save Your Life by Ernest Crim III is a must-read for anyone needing a guidepost on how to navigate and awaken to their true power. Every Black child in America and parent should have this book as a staple in their home library! It is a powerful coming of age (auto)biography of the deep-seated hatred Black people face in America! Nothing is wrong with Black people… Something happened to Black people! Ase.”

—Philippe Matthews, host of The Philippe Matthews Show

“Most books of this type, I think, tend to either follow the cerebral or left-brain path of analysis and factual consideration, or the right-brain trail that focuses on the feelings and emotional content involved. As improbable as it might seem, Ernest finds a way to incorporate both sides without either detracting from the message carried by the other. In fact, he manages to have them complement and strengthen each other. As I began to read, I was prepared for a litany of the usual suspects and a set of arguments which are significant but ordinary. But Ernest found a way to constantly surprise and intrigue me.”

—Michael Rakowsky, House of Delegate member at The People

 

From the Publisher