The Black Utopians
Visions of dignity and liberation in Black American history
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Publishing:6th Feb '25
£20.00
This title is due to be published on 6th February, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Exploring the dreams and struggles of Black Americans, The Black Utopians highlights their quest for dignity and radical alternatives in a world shaped by systemic racism.
In The Black Utopians, Aaron Robertson delves into the rich tapestry of Black Americans' aspirations to redefine their existence amid systemic challenges. He poses thought-provoking questions about how the disillusioned and marginalized can not only endure but also enhance the beauty of their lives. Through his journey from Promise Land, Tennessee, to Detroit, where he was born, Robertson highlights the compelling story of the Shrine of the Black Madonna. Founded by the visionary preacher Albert Cleage Jr., this institution represents a unique blend of Afrocentric Christianity and radical social activism, serving as a beacon for Black liberation.
The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of diverse Black utopian visions that span from the Reconstruction era to the cultural upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, extending into contemporary times. Robertson reflects on the significance of these movements, illustrating the relentless pursuit of spaces that uphold Black dignity and foster community. The Shrine's chancel mural of a Black Virgin and child emerges as a powerful symbol of a national liberation movement, known as Black Christian Nationalism, which encapsulates the hopes and dreams of many.
The Black Utopians is not just a historical account; it is a nuanced exploration of a movement still evolving. Robertson invites readers to envision a future where systemic barriers are dismantled and where the quest for ideological and physical spaces of nourishment and protection for Black individuals continues unabated. This book offers a profound insight into the ongoing struggle for a more equitable world.
'Impressive ... a meaningful contribution to the wider literature on American utopianism' * New York Times *
'An extraordinary work of history and memoir... mines the tension between “running from hell” and “racing toward paradise,” and finds beauty in seemingly impossible dreams.' * Washington Post *
'An entrancingly rich odyssey of observation and storytelling, The Black Utopians returns us to forgotten and unknown histories of the ongoing search for a fairer, more equitable America ... reminds us that integral to Black struggle has been an unbreakable sense of hope, resistance, and joy.' * John Keene, author of Punks: New & Selected Poems and Counternarratives *
'An indispensable resource for all those who dream of horizons, and who imagine unimaginable worlds.' * Alex Zamalin, author of Black Utopia: The History of an Idea from Black Nationalism to Afrofuturism *
'At a time when signs of dystopia and despair abound, The Black Utopians takes us on a journey to a place—as much inside as around us—where stubborn hopefulness pushes back against the sirens of impossibility.' * Ruha Benjamin author of Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want and Imagination: A Manifesto *
'A richly braided and beautifully written account that combines history, personal memoir, and journalism ... A deeply original and major contribution to the literature of utopia.' * Akash Kapur, author of Better to Have Gone: Love, Death and the Quest for Utopia *
'Robertson's voice is exquisitely clear-eyed, searching, and expansive, offering a perspective as wise as it is intimate. From the postbellum settlement of Promise Land, Tennessee, to the radical social movements of Detroit, The Black Utopians unearths again and again crucial legacies of Black resistance.' * Adrian Shirk, author of Heaven is a Place on Earth: Searching for an American Utopia *
'At a time when signs of dystopia and despair abound, The Black Utopians takes us on a journey to a place—as much inside as around us—where stubborn hopefulness pushes back against the sirens of impossibility. In these pages, utopia is not fanciful and fleeting escapism, but the sweat-soaked soil of freedom dreams and fugitive imagination—nowhere and everywhere at once.' * Ruha Benjamin author of Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want and Imagination: A Manifesto *
ISBN: 9781784744755
Dimensions: 222mm x 138mm x 25mm
Weight: 400g
400 pages