How Far to the Promised Land

More about the book

From a New York Times contributing opinion writer and award-winning author, this intergenerational account explores a family's quest for home and hope. Esau McCaulley reflects on his life, shaped by childhood poverty, anti-Black racism, and an absent father, ultimately achieving a middle-class existence as a university professor. However, his perspective shifts dramatically upon learning of his father's death in a car crash, leading him to deliver the eulogy and confront his father's complicated legacy. This pivotal moment prompts McCaulley to delve into his family's history, revealing the influences of his great-grandmother Sophia, a prophetic tenant farmer in Jim Crow Alabama, and his mother Laurie, who raised four children alone amid societal stigma. Through the stories of family, friends, and neighbors, McCaulley highlights their small victories in a world designed to marginalize Black lives. With profound honesty, he raises essential questions about our obligations to one another and the essence of humanity. This compelling narrative challenges simplistic views on poverty and upward mobility, giving voice to those often excluded from the American Dream. It is a thrilling and tender exploration of the Black experience in America.