The Warmth of Other Suns：The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

Inthisepic,beautifullywrittenmasterwork,PulitzerPrize–winningauthorIsabelWilkersonchroniclesoneofthegreatuntoldstoriesofAmericanhistory:thedecades-longmigrationofblackcitizenswhofledtheSouthfornorthernandwesterncities,insearchofabetterlife.From1915to1970,thisexodusofalmostsixmillionpeoplechangedthefaceofAmerica.Wilkersoncomparesthisepicmigrationtothemigrationsofotherpeoplesinhistory.Sheinterviewedmorethanathousandpeople,andgainedaccesstonewdataandofficialrecords,towritethisdefinitiveandvividlydramaticaccountofhowtheseAmericanjourneysunfolded,alteringourcities,ourcountry,andourselves.?Withstunninghistoricaldetail,Wilkersontellsthisstorythroughthelivesofthreeuniqueindividuals:IdaMaeGladney,whoin1937leftsharecroppingandprejudiceinMississippiforChicago,wheresheachievedquietblue-collarsuccessand,inoldage,votedforBarackObamawhenheranforanIllinoisSenateseat;sharpandquick-temperedGeorgeStarling,whoin1945fledFloridaforHarlem,whereheendangeredhisjobfightingforcivilrights,sawhisfamilyfall,andfinallyfoundpeaceinGod;andRobertFoster,wholeftLouisianain1953topursueamedicalcareer,thepersonalphysiciantoRayCharlesaspartofaglitteringlysuccessfulmedicalcareer,whichallowedhimtopurchaseagrandhomewhereheoftenthrewexuberantparties.Wilkersonbrilliantlycapturestheirfirsttreacherousandexhaustingcross-countrytripsbycarandtrainandtheirnewlivesincoloniesthatgrewintoghettos,aswellashowtheychangedthesecitieswithsouthernfood,faith,andcultureandimprovedthemwithdiscipline,drive,andhardwork.Botharivetingmicrocosmandamajorassessment,TheWarmthofOtherSunsisabold,remarkable,andrivetingwork,asuperbaccountofan“unrecognizedimmigration”withinourownland.Throughthebreadthofitsnarrative,thebeautyofthewriting,thedepthofitsresearch,andthefullnessofthepeopleandlivesportrayedherein,thisbookisdestinedtobecomeaclassic.