Tariq El-Amin
Sanitizing History: A children’s book for adults, because real history was way too uncomfortable, is a bold, satirical exploration of how America remembers its past and what it chooses to forget. Told in the visual and tonal style of a children’s book, this collection uses irony, innocence, and dark humor to expose the dangerous simplicity of 'feel-good' history.Through a series of short, fictionalized vignettes inspired by real events, Sanitizing History reintroduces readers to the people and systems often portrayed as honorable, decent, or god-fearing, yet whose actions reveal the cruelty and contradiction embedded in America’s story. From plantation overseers and preachers to policymakers and pioneers, each entry presents the sanitized version first, allowing readers to confront the ugly truth that polite language and revisionist storytelling have long tried to erase.At once provocative and deeply human, this book challenges readers to consider how national myths are built and who pays the cost for their preservation. It invites reflection, discomfort, and ultimately, reckoning.Designed as a 'children’s book for adults,' Sanitizing History blends narrative satire with historical commentary to spark conversation about power, memory, and moral responsibility.For those seeking to understand how history shapes conscience and how truth can be both painful and healing, this book offers a creative and courageous starting point.
