Paru in 1885 in Paris, this work is a plea in favor of the black race, a response to the essay on the inequality of human races by Joseph Arthur de Gobineau. Anténor Firmin wanted to fight the racist theses of Gobineau. The author defines a critical, social and cultural anthropology. It reassesses the essential role of African cultures in the history of civilization, from the Egyptians to the first black republic of Haiti. The author affirms his certainties on the equality of men and opens up new avenues for reflection on the black condition. This book is a must for understanding racism and the stereotypes that circulate in modern societies.