Proximity to Power

Approx. 240 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 12 halftones, 3 maps, 5 tables, appends., notes, bibl., index

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-8607-3
Published: June 2025
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4696-8606-6
Published: June 2025

Paperback Available June 2025, but pre-order your copy today!

Buy this Book

To purchase online via an independent bookstore, visit Bookshop.org

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Alexandria, Virginia, has long held a unique sociopolitical position due to its proximity to the nation's capital. This unexplored relationship had a profound impact on African Americans' access to schools, transportation, and other resources in comparison to other southern towns and cities. Proximity to Power examines the history of Alexandria's African American community from the mid-nineteenth century to the twenty-first century, focusing on its dynamic relationship with the federal government before, during, and after the Civil War. Krystyn R. Moon highlights the long-standing advocacy and agency of Alexandria's Black residents, adding further nuance to our understanding of the relationship between race and place.

About the Author

Krystyn R. Moon is professor of history and American studies at the University of Mary Washington.

For more information about Krystyn R. Moon, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

"Proximity to Power is the first major history of Alexandria, Virginia, highlighting its crucial role at the crossroads of US nationalism and the African American struggle for freedom. Krystyn Moon skillfully blends southern, urban, and suburban history with public history to explore how the Black community in Alexandria navigated its proximity to federal power, creating a deeply researched narrative that captures the city's uniquely dynamic relationship with Washington, DC."—Andrew Friedman, Haverford College