Part historical exploration, part travel memoir, Beyond the Shores reveals histories of a diverse group of African Americans who have left the United States over the course of the past century.
Temporally and geographically sweeping, as well as deeply personal ... 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.
Walker’s book constructs a lineage of Black Americans nurturing creative ingenuity through migration, making the case for freedom of movement as a companion to the freedom of expression ... Subjects are introduced in chronological order, with Walker making deft connections across chapters and narratives by mapping changes in policies, movements, and prevailing social attitudes in the United States, as well as in the other countries ... 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.
