Insight into 'Black Moses' by Caleb Gayle

Award-winning journalist Caleb Gayle, known for his previous work 'We Refuse to Forget,' presents his latest narrative with 'Black Moses.'

This book explores the ascent of Edward McCabe, a staunch advocate who, amid the era of Reconstruction, aspired to establish a state governed by Black citizens within the Oklahoma Territory. Confronting both discrimination and avarice, McCabe envisioned a sanctuary or 'promised land' for newly emancipated African Americans.

The following is an excerpt from the book.

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In 1891, Edward Preston McCabe, a young yet experienced politician, made a bold declaration: "We shall form a new party, prioritizing Black leadership in at least one State, featuring African American officials at state and county levels, along with Black senators and representatives in Congress." As the fleeting successes of Reconstruction were fading into history, Black individuals across the nation were facing systemic disenfranchisement and aggression. McCabe's vision seemed improbable, yet it was far from impossible, prompting a journalist to journey from Minnesota to witness this possibility in the Oklahoma Territory.

The day was September 22, 1891, and the borders of Indian Territory erupted in a cacophony of gunfire and cannon shots, signifying the official opening for settlement of the Oklahoma Territory. These lands, previously designated to various Indigenous groups such as the Sac and Fox, the Iowa, the Shawnee, and the Potawatomi by the U.S. government, were now open to all who could claim and maintain them.

As evening fell, approximately twenty-five thousand individuals—from African Americans escaping the oppressive Jim Crow conditions to hopeful poor whites, and Indigenous peoples observing the newcomers—gathered in anticipation of claiming land. This opportunity was seen as a tangible hope for a brighter future, where the acquisition of land was open to anyone willing to stake their claim, remain for five years, and make it their own.

Historical Context of Land Opening

For many, this moment presented a unique opportunity to establish a foundation for future prosperity. Whether affluent or of modest means, each participant had the chance to dash to a plot, claim ownership, develop it, and after a five-year tenure, legally own a 160-acre parcel, thereby securing a legacy for the future.