A Black Moses: The Quest for a Promised African-American Land in Oklahoma

We all are familiar, of course, with Robert Altman’s classic 1971 movie about the settling of the west, McCabe and Mrs Miller. But most of us, I’m guessing, don’t know about another McCabe, this one African-American, the black Moses in fact, who almost created an African -American land in Oklahoma. McCabe’s all-too-American story is told in Caleb Gayle’s new book, appropriately entitled Black Moses, the saga of Edward McCabe’s transformation from a Wall Street clerk to one of the first prominent American proponents of Black sepatism and self-government. What makes McCabe's story so compelling is how close he actually came to success. By the 1890s, tens of thousands of African Americans had followed him to Oklahoma Territory, establishing over fifty all-Black towns. McCabe had learned the art of selling dreams from hotel magnate Potter Palmer in Chicago, and he deployed those skills to convince Black families fleeing post-Reconstruction violence that they could build their own promised land in the American West. It’s quite a story. If only Altman was around to transform this quintessentially American tale of a fresh beginning into American cinema. 1. The Power of Using America's Own Language Against ItselfMcCabe brilliantly deployed quintessentially American arguments - westward expansion, self-governance, constitutional principles - to advocate for Black separatism. Like Frederick Douglass before him, he insisted this was "a very American project" and even pitched directly to President Benjamin Harrison, using precedents like the American Colonization Society to make his case.2. How Close America Actually Came to Having a Black StateThis wasn't just a pipe dream - by the 1890s, tens of thousands of African Americans had moved to Oklahoma Territory, establishing over 50 all-Black towns. McCabe's vision of a Black-governed state with Black senators and congressmen was within reach until Oklahoma chose to "become the South" by making Jim Crow segregation its very first law.3. The Entrepreneurial Roots of Black NationalismMcCabe's transformation from Wall Street clerk to separatist leader reveals how business skills could serve radical political ends. Learning to "sell dreams" from hotel magnate Potter Palmer, he became a master at convincing Black families fleeing post-Reconstruction violence that they could build their own promised land.4. The Tragic Pattern of Zero-Sum American PoliticsThe ultimate failure of McCabe's vision - culminating in tragedies like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre - illustrates how Black success was seen as a threat rather than an achievement. As Gayle notes, this reflects enduring "zero-sum politics" where one group's prosperity is viewed as another's loss.5. Why These "Lost" Stories Matter TodayIn an era when institutions like the Smithsonian face political pressure over African American history, Gayle argues for the importance of telling these stories "beautifully" for popular audiences, not just academics. McCabe's tale of ambition, near-success, and ultimate defeat offers both inspiration and sobering lessons about the ongoing struggle for Black belonging in America.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe