The Second Battle for Africa

"McDuffie's book is unlike previous works that examine Garveyism up to Garvey's deportation, in that he carries the story forward into the twentieth century. More than this, he expertly examines the many formations influenced by Garvey. He then sites these trends in the ‘Diasporic Midwest,’ working to establish this region as a hotbed of Garvey’s legacy. The Second Battle for Africa is a superior work of scholarship.” - Gerald Horne, Moores Professor of History and African American Studies, University of Houston

“The Second Battle for Africa is a sweeping tour de force, uncovering and recovering both persistence and ruptures in the history of the Black freedom struggle. By incorporating gender and queer theory and combining a global diaspora perspective with a regional focus, Erik S. McDuffie brings new lenses to the study of Garveyism and Black nationalism.” - Eileen Boris, Hull Professor of Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

"In this expansive, innovative, thoroughly researched, and compellingly argued book, McDuffie explores the deep roots of Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in the Midwest, particularly in the cities of the heartland. . . . He covers a wide range of territory, from the Midwest to Liberia and Ghana, and strains of Garveyism, keeping several balls in the air while significantly expanding readers' understanding of Black nationalism in the US and beyond. Recommended." - D. C. Catsam, Choice

"The Second Battle for Africa offers a thoughtful and challenging new lens through which to understand the Black liberation struggle, one that scholars will learn from and grapple with for years to come." - Adam Ewing, Journal of Social History

"The Second Battle for Africa is a landmark in Garveyite scholarship in its chronological scope and contribution to the institutional history of the UNIA." - Mary G. Rolinson, Journal of African American History