Mug with Color Inside

TruthTeeTold™ tee shirts stand out in many ways. Each shirt narrates a story about American history, deeply rooted in the experiences of the people who helped shape America. TruthTeeTold tees are much more than ordinary shirts that sport bold, singular messages displayed across the chest or back. Unfortunately, such “message shirts,” which we support, have been restricted in many educational and professional settings because they are deemed “discomforting” despite the truth of their message. TruthTeeTold shirts go beyond a singular message in hopes of circumventing such prohibitions. Our tees subtly yet powerfully transport you, via QR Code, into a vast array of accessible history that enhances your understanding and exploration of America. Our research is inspired by those whose shoulders we stand on. TruthTeeTold tees are wearable narratives with in-depth, non-fiction stories about our American identity. Our content-rich, truth-telling messages are accessible only when the code is cracked. The price of each shirt reflects the research and development, scholarship, and the latest technology to keep history alive. American history begins here by deciphering the QR code. Each one, teach one.

When you sport a TruthTeeTold tee, you are donning high-quality fashion made of the finest, American, Supima cotton. TruthTeeTold tees are made from a premium, natural cotton fiber that is soft, durable, and stylish. TruthTeeTold shirts exemplify quality and minimalism. Our shirts reflect the investment we make in researching, verifying, and developing our brand and the care we put into each QR Code we release. We stand behind the investigation embedded in every unique QR Code we present. Follow each QR code to reveal the stories, and resource materials that tell the truth about American history, and how we have arrived at the place we are today.

Our rigorously researched tee shirts are not cheap to produce, we think the investment in this education is worth it and we believe you will too. Together we can creatively counter the deliberate fictions and fabrications about American history that have erased the lived experiences of so many, diverse groups on the verge of being completely written out of history. Book banning is but one of many steps taken to bury American history.

Yes. Our tees are made with Supima Cotton, a lovely, durable cotton made only in America. We recommend turning the shirt inside out before laundering to protect the integrity of the QR code. However, we have laundered shirts many times without the inside-outside recommendation and our tees look amazing after each washing. Moreover, on scorching summer days, Supima cotton is cool, breathable, and does not cling to the body.

Currently, our small operation focuses on researching history and building a team to investigate the wealth of American history, with particular attention to the unknown tales dormant in our national record. We foresee a future when visitors to the website will be able to select from a plethora of categories from history, ranging from people, places, events, sports, education, inventors, and many more. We also plan custom designs for churches, schools, family reunions, and organizations.

We are eager to provide custom items for special programs, work events, and meaningful gatherings such as family reunions, schools anniversaries, and other groups with a hidden history that deserves to be unearthed and shared. Please note that these orders will incur additional fees and require extra time. We don’t claim to know every story out there. Share with us the people, events, or topics, and we’ll conduct the research, create a dynamic QR code, and present it all in an engaging narrative for your special event. All such requests are accepted at the discretion of TruthTeeTold.

We currently have 15 categories of people, places, and events in American history that are under construction and will soon be ready for display. The website now shows a small sampling of the offerings available. Behind the scenes, a small team compiles and connects information to other relevant websites, books, movies, documentaries, and more. Therefore, providing context-rich data that we carefully review and substantiate takes time before release. We combat myths, half-truths, and outright lies with evidence-based research. We hope that those who might know a hidden history and unique tales from their region will contribute to our efforts to complete and correct the fragmentary record of American history. Our plans include collaborating with others. We aim to inspire youth to write essays and research papers on the overlooked parts of history in their locality. TruthTeeTold’s future goals include awards, grants, and other support for students and teachers as partners in our shared mission to keep American history alive.

TruthTeeTold is about American history. Black people are a prominent part of that history. Indigenous people who have long occupied the land that became known as America are also central to American history. Before Chinese immigrants arrived to work on building railroads, there were Filipinos known as Luzonians. They, too, are part of American history. The contributions of Latinos can be seen at every level throughout the nation. European immigrants from Eastern, Southern, and Central Europe also contribute to American history. The stories of immigrants from all over the world coming to America for various push-pull factors, along with their experiences and contributions, are the narratives we aim to elevate. TruthTeeTold is not solely focused on Black people; it encompasses American history and those who have been erased, eliminated, and excluded from the narrative of America. This aligns with what the late, great historian Howard Zinn referred to as "the People’s History.” It highlights those who have built this country and whose contributions have often been minimized and devalued. You will NOT find a focus on the "Founding Fathers" here, except when their stories are essential to the highlighted topics. This is "history from the bottom up,” a term coined by the late historian Jesse Lemisch. We share the stories of allies, resisters, and supporters of social justice and democracy. TruthTeeTold promotes powerful voices such as Fred Shuttleworth, Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Yuri Kochiyama, Grace Lee Boggs, Joan C. Downing, the Lovejoy brothers, William Lewis Moore, Recy Taylor, Viola Luizzo, Rev. James Reeb, Maceo Snipes, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Rabbis Perry Nussbaum, Jacob Schiff, Julius Rosenwald, Charlotte E. Ray, and James Forman–to name a few. These voices impart unforgettable lessons for the young and old alike.

TruthTeeTold serves as a gateway to a wealth of information and educational resources. Education should both inform and entertain. You can begin your American history journey with t-shirts and totes, then enhance your experience by fully using the resources linked via QR Codes on the TruthTeeTold website. In addition to the QR Code, a variety of materials invites you to explore beyond what we present. If travel is within your means, consider visiting our recommended museums and cultural and historical sites. Wherever you go, delve into local history. If traveling is not an option, take advantage of what is available at home or opt for a virtual tour of a place you wish to visit. Many museums offer virtual tours; many are gathered on this site. Being homebound is no longer an obstacle to travel. Journey from the comfort of your home or public library. Learn the history of your location and who contributed to its construction. We aim to cover each state in America and share those narratives. Not much of a reader? Watch documentaries by Stanley Nelson, Ken Burns, Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, and others featured on our website. Enjoy videos that narrate America's stories, including the compelling documentary, The League, on the history of the Negro Baseball League, by the talented filmmaker Sam Pollard, or The Gilded Age on American Experience. Our website can direct you to outstanding documentary resources such as Frontline, Independent Lens, and the American Experience, among others.

For parents, children, and teachers, many museums and other sites listed among our resources offer free, accessible lesson plans in civics, social studies, math, history humanities, language, and the arts. Never rely on schools to educate your child. Have fun learning together as a family.

Yes. We are eager to provide an array of materials for adults and children. We should never wait on or rely on schools to teach history, particularly history from the bottom up. When we send our children to school, they should already know that they come from strength and brilliance and are part of a rich and resilient past. We must give all children the tools to overcome the potential miseducation that some schools seem hellbent on teaching. We plan to offer games, fun activities, and recommendations for parents to teach their children to be critical thinkers and doers in a school system that might not encourage or support being either. As of April 2025, there are deliberate efforts to destroy public education. While some leaders have proclaimed that they "like the poorly educated," we reject such ignorance and see the efforts to dismantle public education as cruel. Education as resistance can serve as a repellent against anti-democratic ideals. Children are our future and we must "teach them well."

Yes. We welcome such contributions. We hope that visitors will come to view the site as co-created. We are receptive to your ideas and collaborations. We hope to develop State-by-State team of researchers of all ages who will share their discoveries and stories as we build a diverse and inclusive American history archive across disciplines. All requests and contributions for inclusion must undergo our rigorous standards for acceptance and are selected at the discretion of TruthTeeTold.