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A review by booksamongstfriends
The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America by Aaron Robertson
3.0
First, I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read The Black Utopians. I was really excited to dive into this, and I’m happy to say that the narration did not disappoint. It was familiar, eloquent, and perfectly paced, complementing the depth and breadth of the content. Robertson’s research is clearly extensive, and the book presents a vast range of perspectives on the long-standing question: where does Black prosperity exist without the limitations of oppression?
One of the strongest elements of this book is its emphasis on community-forward thinking. Robertson's personal connections to the themes of Black rediscovery and growth on multiple scales are evident throughout the work, giving it a grounding sense of sincerity and passion. I really appreciated how he highlighted the possibilities of Black utopianism, the idea that we can imagine a future of liberation that isn’t confined by current structures.
That being said, I did feel that the book sometimes fell short of fully engaging with the complex topics it introduced. There were moments when I thought, yes, we’re really going to dive deep now, only to see the narrative pull back and dance around the major points. It often felt like the book was covering a lot while elaborating on very little.
One aspect I found challenging was the heavy reliance on a religious standpoint. While faith is an important and legitimate lens through which to examine Black utopianism, I felt that the book missed an opportunity to explore ideas that could decenter whiteness and patriarchy from that viewpoint. For example, I would have liked to see more discussion on polytheism, pre-Christian faiths, learned patriarchy, and other alternative perspectives that might exist within the vision of Black utopia. Even if those ideas don’t align with the author’s personal beliefs, I think they would have enriched the conversation and added complexity to the idea of utopia itself.
Despite these critiques, I don’t want to take away from the important conversation that The Black Utopians brings to the table. In many ways the book is personal, reflective, and caring in its approach. One I’m sure will be well received. While I would have loved for the book to be a more elaborate examination of the topic, I understand that this might not have been its purpose. Instead, it feels like a thoughtful introduction, a kickstarter for future thought through the past and community discussions around Black empowerment and utopian ideals.
One of the strongest elements of this book is its emphasis on community-forward thinking. Robertson's personal connections to the themes of Black rediscovery and growth on multiple scales are evident throughout the work, giving it a grounding sense of sincerity and passion. I really appreciated how he highlighted the possibilities of Black utopianism, the idea that we can imagine a future of liberation that isn’t confined by current structures.
That being said, I did feel that the book sometimes fell short of fully engaging with the complex topics it introduced. There were moments when I thought, yes, we’re really going to dive deep now, only to see the narrative pull back and dance around the major points. It often felt like the book was covering a lot while elaborating on very little.
One aspect I found challenging was the heavy reliance on a religious standpoint. While faith is an important and legitimate lens through which to examine Black utopianism, I felt that the book missed an opportunity to explore ideas that could decenter whiteness and patriarchy from that viewpoint. For example, I would have liked to see more discussion on polytheism, pre-Christian faiths, learned patriarchy, and other alternative perspectives that might exist within the vision of Black utopia. Even if those ideas don’t align with the author’s personal beliefs, I think they would have enriched the conversation and added complexity to the idea of utopia itself.
Despite these critiques, I don’t want to take away from the important conversation that The Black Utopians brings to the table. In many ways the book is personal, reflective, and caring in its approach. One I’m sure will be well received. While I would have loved for the book to be a more elaborate examination of the topic, I understand that this might not have been its purpose. Instead, it feels like a thoughtful introduction, a kickstarter for future thought through the past and community discussions around Black empowerment and utopian ideals.