Wandering in Strange Lands

A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots

De: Morgan Jerkins

Narrado por: Morgan Jerkins

One of Buzzfeed's 24 New Books We Couldn’t Put Down

“One of the smartest young writers of her generation.”—Book Riot

From the acclaimed cultural critic and New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing—a writer whom Roxane Gay has hailed as “a force to be reckoned with”—comes this powerful story of her journey to understand her northern and southern roots, the Great Migration, and the displacement of black people across America.

Between 1916 and 1970, six million black Americans left their rural homes in the South for jobs in cities in the North, West, and Midwest in a movement known as The Great Migration. But while this event transformed the complexion of America and provided black people with new economic opportunities, it also disconnected them from their roots, their land, and their sense of identity, argues Morgan Jerkins. In this fascinating and deeply personal exploration, she recreates her ancestors’ journeys across America, following the migratory routes they took from Georgia and South Carolina to Louisiana, Oklahoma, and California.

Following in their footsteps, Jerkins seeks to understand not only her own past, but the lineage of an entire group of people who have been displaced, disenfranchised, and disrespected throughout our history. Through interviews and hundreds of pages of transcription, Jerkins braids the loose threads of her family’s oral histories, which she was able to trace back 300 years, with the insights and recollections of black people she met along the way—the tissue of black myths, customs, and blood that connect the bones of American history.

Incisive and illuminating, Wandering in Strange Lands is a timely and enthralling look at America’s past and present, one family’s legacy, and a young black woman’s life, filtered through her sharp and curious eyes.

I love Morgan

If I had a daughter I wish her to possesses the tenacity and finesse of Morgan. I read her first book and walked away thinking how brilliant and brave to share so much.
Now I’m opened mouthed in awe at the length to which she will go to unearth her/our truth
Her perspectives on events I have lived through or witnessed first hand helped me see with fresher eyes. Examine with a wiser heart and hope renewed faith that the post Civil Rights Era is in more than capable hands. Morgan you are my /our daughter warrior and we are comfortable with you. Thanks for this book. You are at this moment and in moments to come among the greats.

Eye-opener

I heard about this book on Nat'l Public Radio, wanting to hear the whole story.

As I listened, I felt like I was going right along with the writer to find out about her heritage; her descriptions of her family's feelings about their past, the places she went to do her research, and what she found out each of the different cultures she encountered was all SO eye-opening.

I hope this book will be added to general curriculum for schools, from Jr. High through college-level. If Americans were more exposed to this meaningful way of presenting a family's history, we might, at last, be able to move forward into a society where all lives matter.

Not Just Black History -- It's All Of Our History

I have done a lot of reading this summer to grow my understanding of racism and its history here in our nation, and to unearth prejudices that I may still carry. Jerkin's book, which she's so eloquently narrates, is the best I've read this summer. While I don't know that it's what she set out to do, her story will help me better articulate the case for reparations with my white community. Powerful and important.

Outstanding history lesson…

Well researched and beautifully told, this book provides a history of a personal search for identity and a people’s struggles over centuries that continue into the present and future of this nation. Real, listen and learn…

She’s Done It Again!

This young lady is so intelligent and so insightful. I’m a 60 y/o AA women. I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned from both books by this young lady who is not even 30 years old yet. Her future as a writer is bright. Thanks for sharing your family’s story.

Disappointed

I found the part on the connections between blacks and Native Americans very interesting. Aks???? Really brought the professionalism of the narration down.

Very poorly narrated!

Yes, part was the book was inspirational, especially since I am from Louisiana.
However, the author so often mispronounced words, especially the word asked - usually she said "axed" that at times, it was a struggle to great through. I found myself looking at the time remaining in the book.
Nonetheless, the research required was impressive and well done.
Since I experienced the book via audible, I would not recommend that version; perhaps the print version would be easier to endorse.