Dirty Little Secrets About Black History: Its Heroes and Other Troublemakers
Dirty Little Secrets by Dr. Claud Anderson Ed. D. is an information-packed book that uncovers a lot of historical and cultural facts about Africans, and Indigenous-Americans (black, copper-colored and red), and our experiences before and after European colonialism, that may have slipped through the cracks of history had it not been for the investigative research of Claud Anderson.
The author was able to uncover hundreds of interesting yet little-known tidbits of information buried in various laws, bills of sales, newspaper reports, letters, and personal diaries of the past about slave revolts, successful Indigenous-American businessmen and women, heroes, heroines, freedom fighters, and conspiracies to keep effective education and literacy from Indigenous people.
The author, Dr. Claud Anderson, says that the purpose of his book ‘…is to unearth and expose some of the ‘Dirty Little Secrets’ hidden in the darkness of history.
Among many other things, this book exposes some startling facts about several laws and policies that were designed to slam the door on black achievement, enlightenment, and literacy around the world. For example did you know that in 1517 Spain enacted the Asiento de Negroes (Negroes Enslavement Contract) which denied education and reading instruction for enslaved Africans and that similar legislation was soon to follow in America, or that Howard University, which was founded in 1867, had the purpose of only educating the mulatto offspring of White Congressmen, the so-called “elite” blacks?
Not only does this book shed light on various plots and conspiracies, but it also does a great job of revealing many unknown black accomplishments and success stories such as the story of Thomas L. Jennings, was the first black man in America to be issued a patent. As a result of his invention, he was able to establish a dry cleaning business, and a tailoring business in New York City in the early 1800s!
Dirty Little Secrets does a great job of packing a lot of information into a small space. The chapters are broken down into bite-sized chunks, making searching for and reading the information easy.
The historical facts in this book are a wake-up call for all those who were taught that black history began with slavery, and it will open your mind with it’s many stories of accomplishments and struggles of our great people!
Dirty Little Secrets confirms the adage that “everything hidden will be revealed.” As history books go, this is another “must have!”
Dr. Claude Anderson is an economist, author, and lecturer specializing in “African-American” economic empowerment and racial wealth disparities. He earned a Ph.D. in economics and has served as a professor at several universities, including Howard University.
Besides Dirty Little Secrets Dr. Anderson also authored “Black Labor, White Wealth” (1994), and “PowerNomics: The National Plan to Empower Black America” (2001)
Legacy
Dr. Claude Anderson’s body of work remains foundational in contemporary discussions on “Black” economic justice, self-determination, and the reevaluation of historical narratives that have long marginalized “African-American” contributions. His theories, particularly those outlined in PowerNomics, continue to shape Black nationalist thought, Pan-African economic strategies, and grassroots movements focused on community empowerment and wealth-building. By challenging conventional civil rights frameworks and advocating for systemic self-reliance, Anderson’s ideas persist as both a rallying point and a provocation—sparking debates while inspiring new generations of activists, scholars, and entrepreneurs committed to tangible Black economic liberation.
Booklist
- “Black Labor, White Wealth” (1994) – Examines systemic barriers to Black economic progress and critiques traditional civil rights approaches to equality.
- “PowerNomics: The National Plan to Empower Black America” (2001) – Proposes a five-year economic strategy for Black self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship, education, and political unity.
- “Dirty Little Secrets About Black History” (2002) – Challenges mainstream historical narratives, highlighting overlooked Black achievements and systemic oppression.
- “More Dirty Little Secrets About Black History, It’s Heroes and Other Troublemakers,” Vol. 2 (2005) – A compilation of little known facts that highlight the talents, achievements, heroic deeds and sometimes misdeeds, of Blacks in America.
- ”A Black History Reader: 101 Questions You Never Thought to Ask” (2018) – An exploration of Black history regarding how American and Blacks arrived at today’s racial conundrum.
Book Review by Hero Sunrunner – htpp://www.AfroPerspectives.com
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The time is now to go back and claim your true history and knowledge – to use it to change your world for the better today and to dream of a better tomorrow. – Spirit of Sankofa
