In the series premiere, "The Disturbing Confidence of Ignorance," filmmaker Raoul Peck sets out to illuminate the intertwined currents of hate and bigotry running through history. Focusing on the United States' legacy as a colonial power, Peck explores how race first became institutionalized, the Nazi program of "elimination" and its antecedents in the West, and more.

In Part 2, "Who the F*** is Columbus," Peck revisits the stories of Christopher Columbus, the Alamo, and the Trail of Tears from an indigenous perspective, showing how "official" history is shaped by those in power and solidified by myth and popular culture. Next, he examines the "doctrine of discovery" used to justify the enslavement of millions of Africans.

Peck connects the dots between European innovations in weaponry and an endless cycle of military operations throughout the centuries.​

In the series finale, Peck links the resurgence of white nationalism with the global history of fascism, slavery, colonialism and Nazism.​