Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State
By Caleb Gayle
Riverhead Books, 2025

As the changes brought by the Civil War and Reconstruction began to wane, anger at the opportunities available to newly freed Black people were on the rise, prompting both Blacks and Whites to search for new places to settle. Edward McCabe, a Black businessman and rising political star, envisioned a solution: found a state for Black people to live in and govern. Eyeing Oklahoma, which had been deeded to those displaced by the Trail of Tears, McCabe’s vision was foiled by politics, business interests, and White settlers who likewise sought the land.

About the Author
Caleb Gayle is a journalist, professor, and the author of We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power, featured at HBF in 2022. Gayle earned his degrees at the University of Oklahoma, Oxford, and Harvard’s Business and Kennedy Schools. He and his wife live in Boston.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.