El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile) also known as Untitled (History of the Black People),[1][2] is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983.

The artwork references Ancient Egypt and Southern United States culture to critique the Western society's understanding of history and its forgetfulness towards slavery.

According to Andrea Frohne, the painting "reclaims Egyptians as African and subverts the concept of ancient Egypt as the cradle of Western Civilization".

[6] Charles M. Tatum, editor for Encyclopedia of Latino Culture, analyzed that "The Nile relates symbols from Basquiat's heritage, such as Spanish words and African masks, to the tumultuous experience of modern-day street life.

[5] The phrase "EL GRAN ESPECTACULO" (the grand spectacle) stretched across the top of the painting, an "ironic commentary on a shameful, centuries-long tragedy.