I really, really wanted to like this book. But I just couldn't get into it. I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator, and the style of the book was such that it just kind of dragged on and on.

There were multiple times when I realized I'd zoned out and missed the last 15 to 20 minutes of what was said. Then, I'd have to go back and "rewind" and replay those bits.

I finally got through it, but honestly, I couldn't tell you a single bit of pertinent information from it. Like, it's been a little less than a month since I read it, and I couldn't tell you the first thing about its plot.

I think it was about some members of the black community seeking to set up their own "Utopian" community. But I could be totally wrong about that. And I hate that I don't remember because I'm pretty sure this is very interesting and important information. Sadly, it just wasn't presented in a way that I could absorb and remember.

Thank you net galley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.
I did not originally realize this was part memoir. However, I really enjoyed the intertwining of history as well as personal experiences.

This book was very inspiring and educational. The narrator did an amazing job bringing a sense of comfort throughout the story. The book tells a unique and reflective perspective on how the black community sought to create utopia. Aaron Robertson reflects his relationship with his father during the different eras which helps mirror his mindset with some of the major events of that time.
I love historical fiction and while the book was extremely knowledgeable I did feel like it was a lot of information at time with going through so many eras . I wanted to be more present in the story for certain parts like the perspective of different beliefs or specific lifestyles for black utopians. Nevertheless the is a great conversation starter and educational guide on the activist and visionary thinker in black community fighting against oppression

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for access to the audiobook of The Black Utopians. The narrator, Dorian Grant, did a fantastic job. Speaking in a way that the book sounded like a poem. The physical copy might be easier to help keep track of where in the book you are as there are multiple stories that converge from past to present.

Histories I hadn't heard or known about were interesting, at times sad, to discover. I wouldn't have known to find out more about Albert Cleage and the Promise Land. The letters interspersed throughout the book were also a beautiful addition.

The book isn't just about histories but people's stories.

3.5 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.

I did not realize when I requested this from NetGalley that it had ties to my hometown. In my teens, I adored The Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore. I regularly visited as a high school student in the early 90s. It's a beloved aspect of Black Detroit. I'm embarrassed to admit I had no idea this was attached to a church, much less the history of the church founder.

While the focus on Albert Cleage Jr. and the Black Nationalist church he founded in Detroit was my favorite aspect of this, I learned about Black towns as well. This focused on the time period post-Civil War and included the author's own family town of Promise Land, Tennessee. This history is enhanced by the author's father's perspective on Black Utopias as a former convict with memories of Promise Land.

This creates a rich tapestry of a narrative, including history & politics deftly mixed with the concept of a Black Utopia. The author himself points out that when the concept of an American Utopia is brought up, Black towns don't immediately come to mind. Yet the author makes the case that Black Towns, Cities, Villages, etc, by their very existence, were founded on utopic ideals, and the author makes a compelling case.

The history of Black towns isn't always pretty, and few of these places still exist. Those that do still exist, often they are barely functioning and mostly empty. None the less these places speak to a uniquely Black American version of the American Dream. After all, as the author themselves points out, a Utopia isn't concerned with being profitable being too busy focusing on what is possible. In that regard, all of these places succeeded.

The narrator of this audiobook is Dion Graham. Dion did great with their narration of this text. The dialogue flowed well, and the narrator managed to convey warmth and interest in this rich history.

I need to plan a visit to the church and bookstore, now that I know it's still open

Thank you to Aaron Robertson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

What first struck me about this book was its cover. I instantly recognized Barkley L. Hendricks, “Lawdy Mama” (1969), and decided to read this book based purely on seeing one of my favorite portraitists of all time. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by the portrait that Aaron Robertson painted of Albert Cleage Jr., a preacher-intellectual whose black Christian nationalist vision formed a church called “the Shrine” that sought to find a little bit of heaven on earth.

Robertson depicts a man who constantly tried to expand the imaginations of his black congregants to want more than just a salve or their condition, but an entirely New World and system.

In Black nationalist movements, it can be easy to get caught up with the idea of “feasibility” and “practicality.” The Utopians were not interested in what’s probable, but what is possible. The idea of “utopia” is not something you obtain. It’s something you rehearse. As such the "Promise Land" was both a place in Tennessee, but also a thought experiment in black self-rule.

The breadth and scope of the work was pleasant to read. Robertson artfully traced the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of generations of black Christians and utopians posing a very simple yet beautiful question– “Who were the dreamers who always wanted more than what they had?” From the reconstruction era to current agricultural co-ops, I saw the very real impact of how the black utopian vision sought to have a physical impact as well as a spiritual one.

I love the way Robertson interweaves his relationship with his father. It’s a redemptive arch that mirrors the story quite well. His father’s letters interspersed showed a man transformed by the teachings of people just like Cleage. My only critique is for the audiobook which is the version I read–the sound and tone shifted at odd moments in the narration. This made me confused regarding when the narrator was reading the Father’s letters and when he was just reading the text.

Finally, the prose was just stunning. Without having a subject matter interest in the book, I believe a reader could enjoy this book based simply on the prose alone. It’s contemplative, introspective, and quite philosophical. It’s evidence of an author who has had to sit with many of the ideas professed by the people he’s writing about.
I expect this book to contend for major awards and personally would love a physical copy.

What a beautiful book on the concept of a promised land for Black Americans. This book comes from a need in our society to give those who have been ostracised for so long their own place to truly and fully belong. The concept of a 'promised land' feels a bit odd to me, reading it during the current situation in Gaza. I understand the premise nonetheless.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.