Reviews, Press & Interviews
“Much more than a mere group biography, Beyond the Shores is a well-researched account of how global social, cultural and political affairs shaped the conditions for African Americans to travel. Walker combines the detailed knowledge of a tour guide with storytelling flair.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Vivid . . . With each story, Beyond the Shores builds a canon of Black creative expression that crosses both temporal and geographic barriers. . . . As others’ stories unfold, so does [Walker’s] own, giving the book the feel of a travel memoir without ever losing the gravity of a historical compendium. The interplay deepens the book’s storytelling.”
—The Atlantic
“An intimate history . . . Nuanced, poignant tales that beautifully flesh out a little-known aspect of the African American experience.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“In this innovative survey, historian Walker (Exquisite Slaves) profiles expatriate African Americans across the 20th century…Drawing on a vast range of sources, including archival materials and memoirs, Walker provides a rich and nuanced portrait of an understudied aspect of African American life. It’s a unique contribution to American history.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Through exquisitely crafted storytelling, Beyond the Shores tells of a different Great Migration. Rather than fighting a seemingly losing battle at home, many African American families, including Walker’s, moved to foreign lands and found both privilege and pain. It’s a story of resilience and hope in the midst of ever-present racism.”
—Dorothy A. Brown, author of The Whiteness of Wealth
“An absorbing and vibrant group biography . . . By exploring the life of Black expats, creatives, and activists, Tamara J. Walker enhances the stories of migration to reveal how race is lived in the United States and abroad. Beautifully researched, this book blends history and autobiography seamlessly in order to tell several American stories.”
—Marcia Chatelain, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Franchise
“Beyond the Shores masterfully blends memoir with vibrant portraits of African Americans abroad. The result is a stunningly original and beautifully written book, one that reconsiders the meaning of both home and away. . . . A must-read!”
—Sean Mills, author of A Place in the Sun
“Beyond the Shores is a marvel, both epic and intimate, rigorous and rousing. Walker brings each of her characters’ journeys fully alive. Together, their stories illuminate how African Americans have transformed the world with their liberatory vision, creativity, and courage.”
—Nadia Owusu, author of Aftershocks
“Walker brings the stories of famous and everyday people, including her own family, to life with great vividness and clarity. This important book is a timely meditation on nation, home, and belonging.”
—Carrie Gibson, author of El Norte
A moving and original contribution to U.S. and especially African American history, Beyond the Shores adds global dimensions to our understanding of the Great Migration during the twentieth century.”
—Surekha Davies, author of Renaissance Ethnography and the Invention of the Human
Press & interviews
Book Trailer (courtesy of Crown Publishing)