Atlantic Bonds

“Vaughan’s life—arcing, roughly, from the United States to Africa—captures continental histories of oppression and violence, but it also reveals the capacity of a single person or family to make some small, safe space through sheer force of will. This is an astonishing history, one of the most compelling and moving books I’ve ever read."—Matthew Guterl, author of Josephine Baker and the Rainbow Tribe

“Wonderfully researched and brilliantly narrated, Atlantic Bonds uniquely reconstructs the incredible history of the Vaughan family, a multigenerational, slave-descended family that endured the expansion of slavery, the rise of West African colonization (by Britain as well as the United States), the aftermath of emancipation, and the transformation of the African diaspora. By seamlessly weaving together macro- and micro-level analysis, Lindsay brings to life the story of how Church Vaughan and his descendants navigated the epic transformations of their times.”—Kristin Mann, Emory University

“An intriguing and important look into the lasting effects of the Atlantic slave trade and the experiences of at least one African American who took advantage of the early nineteenth-century back-to-Africa movement.” — H-Net

“The density and breadth of Lindsay’s research is as impressive as her account of the world of James Churchwill Vaughn. . . . Carefully crafted. . . . Stimulating and informative.”—Journal of American History

“Serves as a useful corrective to understandings of African diasporic identity that rely on the uncomplicated mythologies of cultural nationalism.” — Journal of Social History

“Offers readers two stories: an intimate portrait of one man’s search for home and a greater survey of life on both sides of the Atlantic in the nineteenth century.” — North Carolina Historical Review

“Deeply researched and richly textured.” — Journal of Southern History

"A meticulously researched, highly engaging narrative. . . . [Lindsay] expertly weaves the story of one family with the larger changes both African Americans and Africans faced during the 19th century. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“An important contribution . . . . With its trans-Atlantic scope and accessible writing style, this is a useful and engaging book for African and African Diaspora history courses while at the same time a meaningful addition to Yoruba and Liberian historiography.”—African Studies Review

“A must-read for anyone studying the migration patterns of people of African descent across the Atlantic Ocean and the connections they were able to maintain.”—Journal of North Carolina Association of Historians