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Cover of BLACK MOSES
4.21

Based on 43 Goodreads ratings

BLACK MOSES

by Black people.” Following the Civil War, Gayle writes, supposedly emancipated Blacks had good reason to want to leave the South: Reconstruction was fast proving a failure, having been abandoned by the federal government, and resurgent white supremacy forced a choice: “Ku Klux or Kansas.” Kansas was indeed a destination in what Gayle rightly considers the first Great Migration, preceded by a movement to settle white abolitionists there in order to block the expansion of the slave states. “The negotiated and retreating Reconstruction made McCabe’s argument for a Black state for him,” Gayle writes, but Kansas wasn’t all it was promised to be, and was little friendlier than the South in many ways. Although towns such as Nicodemus were founded, they were so isolated and removed from white market centers that self\u002Dsufficiency was all but impossible. Enter Oklahoma, which McCabe promised, as one contemporary newspaper reported, to be “the New Canaan of the Colored Race.” Hundreds of Blacks settled there during the land rush era, but always in the face of opposition from whites, one leader of whom promised that “if the negroes try to Africanize Oklahoma, they will find that we will enrich our soil with them.” Both promised and very real violence finally drove McCabe away, his project doomed, and, on attaining statehood, Oklahoma quickly established Jim Crow laws to ensure white supremacy and crush the migrants’ dreams."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:305
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780593543

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gritty coming-of-age novel follows a troubled teenager navigating the harsh realities of the foster care system and urban survival, delivering an unflinching portrait of resilience in the face o...

Our Review

This gritty coming-of-age novel follows a troubled teenager navigating the harsh realities of the foster care system and urban survival, delivering an unflinching portrait of resilience in the face of systemic challenges. The narrative combines raw emotional honesty with vivid street-level storytelling that will resonate deeply with young adult readers confronting similar struggles. Through its complex protagonist's journey toward self-discovery, the book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the search for redemption against overwhelming odds. This powerful work doesn't shy away from difficult subject matter but handles it with authenticity and depth.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to balance darkness with moments of genuine humanity and hope, creating a reading experience that feels both truthful and transformative. Teen readers who appreciate character-driven stories with social relevance will find themselves completely immersed in this compelling narrative. The author's distinctive voice and refusal to simplify complex issues make this particularly valuable for classroom discussions and independent reading alike. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page, offering both mirror and window for readers navigating their own paths to adulthood.

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