Marian Miner Cook
Athenaeum

In Beyond the Shores, Dr. Tamara J. Walker reveals poignant histories of a diverse group of African Americans who have left the United States over the course of the past century. Together, the interwoven stories highlight African Americans’ complicated relationship to the United States and the world at large. Drawing on years of research, Walker chronicles their experiences in atmospheric detail, taking readers from well-known capital cities to more unusual destinations like Yangiyul, Uzbekistan, and Kabondo, Kenya. By sharing the accounts of those who escaped the racism of the United States to try their hands at life abroad, she shines a light on the meaning of home and the search for a better life.