Robertson's nonfiction debut is The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America.
At Lit Hub the author tagged "nine key works that provide a window into the long history of Black utopian experiments, tracing it through political, social, and speculative lenses." One title on the list:
Wilson Jeremiah Moses, Afrotopia: The Roots of African American Popular HistoryRead about the other entries on the list.
Moses explores the historical development of utopian thought within African American intellectual traditions, tracing its roots from the eighteenth century through the twentieth century. He examines how Black thinkers and leaders, from Martin Delany to Marcus Garvey, constructed visions of a better future for African Americans, often blending utopian ideals with nationalist and diasporic aspirations.
Moses highlights the complexities of Afrotopian thought, revealing how it encompasses both the hope for a utopian future and the critique of present realities. By analyzing various political and religious movements—including Black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and Ethiopianism—Afrotopia uncovers how African American visions of liberation were often grounded in the desire for a separate, self-governing Black nation, whether in Africa or in the United States.
Through these historical explorations, Moses shows how Afrotopian dreams have been a driving force behind African American activism and cultural production.
--Marshal Zeringue