What is it like growing up Black in the American South?

The question is too particular to answer with abstraction. Instead, Esau McCaulley answers it in the most personal, humble way available, by telling the story of his family in his new memoir, “How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South.”

When he was asked to give the eulogy at his father’s funeral, Esau was sparked to examine his own childhood and dig into his family’s past. In the process, he engaged with the complexity of US history, and its impact on some of the most important questions of our time. In this episode, Esau discusses what he uncovered, and, careful not to generalize, describes what the experience taught him about race, faith, and the culture of the South in the United States.

• Show Notes:
• Similar episodes
• The Architect of the American Civil Rights Movement: James Lawson
• Doing Justice Alongside MLK and Rosa Parks: Dr. Fred Gray
• Eddie Glaude: On James Baldwin’s America
• Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: Eugene Cho
• White Too Long: Robert Jones
• Resources mentioned this episode
• How Far to the Promised Land by Esau McCaulley
• PDF of Lee’s Interview Notes
• Transcription Link

Subscribe to episodes: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Google | YouTube

Follow Us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Follow Lee: Instagram | Twitter

Join our Email List: nosmallendeavor.com

Become a Member: Virtual Only | Standard | Premium

See Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy

Shop No Small Endeavor Merch: Scandalous Witness Course | Scandalous Witness Book |  Joy & the Good Life Course

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Tokens Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices