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The Strangers: Five Extraordinary Black Men and the Worlds That Made Them
Richly imaginative and powerfully empathetic, an intimate portrait of five remarkable Black men, and a meditation on race, estrangement and the search for home.
In the western imagination, a Black man is always a stranger. Outsider, foreigner, intruder, alien. One who remains associated with their origins irrespective of how far they have travelled from them. One who is not an individual in their own right but the representative of a type.
What kind of performance is required for a person to survive this condition? And what happens beneath the mask?
In answer, Ekow Eshun conjures the voices of five very different men. Ira nineteenth century actor and playwright. Matthew polar explorer. Frantz psychiatrist and political philosopher. Malcolm activist leader. Justin million-pound footballer. Each a trailblazer in his field. Each haunted by a sense of isolation and exile. Each reaching for a better future.
Ekow Eshun tells their stories with breathtaking lyricism and empathy, capturing both the hostility and the beauty they experienced in the world. And he locates them within a wider landscape of Black art, culture, history and politics which stretches from Africa to Europe to North America and the Caribbean. As he moves through this landscape, he maps its thematic contours and fault lines, uncovering traces of the monstrous and the fantastic, of exile and escape, of conflict and vulnerability, and of the totemic central figure of the stranger.
In the western imagination, a Black man is always a stranger. Outsider, foreigner, intruder, alien. One who remains associated with their origins irrespective of how far they have travelled from them. One who is not an individual in their own right but the representative of a type.
What kind of performance is required for a person to survive this condition? And what happens beneath the mask?
In answer, Ekow Eshun conjures the voices of five very different men. Ira nineteenth century actor and playwright. Matthew polar explorer. Frantz psychiatrist and political philosopher. Malcolm activist leader. Justin million-pound footballer. Each a trailblazer in his field. Each haunted by a sense of isolation and exile. Each reaching for a better future.
Ekow Eshun tells their stories with breathtaking lyricism and empathy, capturing both the hostility and the beauty they experienced in the world. And he locates them within a wider landscape of Black art, culture, history and politics which stretches from Africa to Europe to North America and the Caribbean. As he moves through this landscape, he maps its thematic contours and fault lines, uncovering traces of the monstrous and the fantastic, of exile and escape, of conflict and vulnerability, and of the totemic central figure of the stranger.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionRace
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2024
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487 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 12, 2025
Ekow Eshun’s "The Strangers" is a remarkable and genre-defying exploration of masculinity, identity, and Blackness that is at once intimate and intellectually expansive. Structured as a series of interconnected biographical portraits interspersed with autobiographical essays, the book achieves a rare balance: it offers the scholarly weight of rigorous historical research while maintaining a tone of lyrical proximity, of quiet, clear empathy. Eshun invites us into the psychological interiority of his subjects with astonishing grace.
The structure of the book is one of its most compelling elements. Each chapter immerses the reader in a pivotal moment of transition—a threshold, a crisis, a quiet epiphany—in the life of a man navigating the complexities of identity. These aren’t grand, totalising narratives; they are snapshots of in-betweenness, chosen not for spectacle but for resonance. Whether confronting fear, failure, glory, or rejection, each figure is rendered with careful nuance. Their stories are not reduced to lessons or symbols—they remain human, contradictory, alive.
Eshun’s use of the second person is a bold and brilliant formal choice. It creates an intimacy that is neither presumptuous nor overbearing, enabling him to approach the enormity of masculinity—both Black and white, across continents and centuries—from within. This narrative voice allows for a kind of direct address that feels both tender and interrogative. It implicates the reader, but also speaks to the historical selves of the men it portrays, folding time in on itself. Masculinity, in Eshun’s hands, is revealed to be not a static condition but a mutable response to context—moulded, wounded, and sometimes weaponised by the societies in which it is forced to operate.
What deepens this analysis even further are the autobiographical essays that close each section. These personal interludes serve not merely as reflections but as extensions—each one enlarges the frame, drawing parallels and continuities between the historical lives he chronicles and his own. In doing so, Eshun doesn’t only narrate his experience; he re-contextualises it as part of a wider, entangled lineage of Black masculinity. This weaving of the personal and the collective, of biography and memoir, underlines the book’s central insight: identity is not forged in isolation. It is shaped—and often distorted—by racism, homophobia, colonial history, and structural violence.
Yet what is perhaps most extraordinary is the prose itself. Eshun’s style is lyrical without being ornamental, descriptive yet never indulgent. His language holds immense empathy—never making excuses, never veering into sentimentality. There is tenderness here, but no pity; insight, but never superiority. His portraits pulse with enchantment, curiosity, and care. The result is a book that feels at once like a love letter and a reckoning.
The Strangers is not merely a study of Black masculinity; it is an excavation of the forces that shape it, the histories that haunt these men, and the futures they imagine or fear. Eshun has written a masterwork—expansive, intimate, formally daring, and profoundly moving.
The structure of the book is one of its most compelling elements. Each chapter immerses the reader in a pivotal moment of transition—a threshold, a crisis, a quiet epiphany—in the life of a man navigating the complexities of identity. These aren’t grand, totalising narratives; they are snapshots of in-betweenness, chosen not for spectacle but for resonance. Whether confronting fear, failure, glory, or rejection, each figure is rendered with careful nuance. Their stories are not reduced to lessons or symbols—they remain human, contradictory, alive.
Eshun’s use of the second person is a bold and brilliant formal choice. It creates an intimacy that is neither presumptuous nor overbearing, enabling him to approach the enormity of masculinity—both Black and white, across continents and centuries—from within. This narrative voice allows for a kind of direct address that feels both tender and interrogative. It implicates the reader, but also speaks to the historical selves of the men it portrays, folding time in on itself. Masculinity, in Eshun’s hands, is revealed to be not a static condition but a mutable response to context—moulded, wounded, and sometimes weaponised by the societies in which it is forced to operate.
What deepens this analysis even further are the autobiographical essays that close each section. These personal interludes serve not merely as reflections but as extensions—each one enlarges the frame, drawing parallels and continuities between the historical lives he chronicles and his own. In doing so, Eshun doesn’t only narrate his experience; he re-contextualises it as part of a wider, entangled lineage of Black masculinity. This weaving of the personal and the collective, of biography and memoir, underlines the book’s central insight: identity is not forged in isolation. It is shaped—and often distorted—by racism, homophobia, colonial history, and structural violence.
Yet what is perhaps most extraordinary is the prose itself. Eshun’s style is lyrical without being ornamental, descriptive yet never indulgent. His language holds immense empathy—never making excuses, never veering into sentimentality. There is tenderness here, but no pity; insight, but never superiority. His portraits pulse with enchantment, curiosity, and care. The result is a book that feels at once like a love letter and a reckoning.
The Strangers is not merely a study of Black masculinity; it is an excavation of the forces that shape it, the histories that haunt these men, and the futures they imagine or fear. Eshun has written a masterwork—expansive, intimate, formally daring, and profoundly moving.
June 10, 2025
An exceptional book. A really original work of creative non-fiction. I am struggling to think of analogues. There are some resemblances to classic African American writing like Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. I guess maybe Red Plenty by Frances Spufford, but that's mainly because it's another work of creative non-fiction that I can think of.
Eshun examines Black Masculinity through a portrait of five black men, interspersed with reflections on other black men and autobiographical sections about his own experiences. For the five portraits he selects a slice of life and draws them out, but he writes them in the second person. This puts the reader in each character's shoes, perhaps to invite the reader to identify or sympathise with them, and help them to understand them. I wonder if this has been influenced at all by Caleb Azumah Nelson's use of second person narration in his novel Open Water.
This kind of imaginative and sympathetic investigation of black masculinity feels quite unusual and welcome. Black women have been the subject of much sympathetic and imaginative discourse over the last few years. Concepts like the idea of 'woke' were adopted from African American women, and for better or worse have transformed society in recent years, first being adopted and championed by liberals, and now under a counter attack from racists and conservatives. Thinkers and writers like Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Angela Davis, Toni Morrison and more have become elevated, canonised, read and discussed much more in this period. Musicians like Beyonce and Rihanna have cults dedicated to them, in a way that I don't think you could say that Jay Z, or A$AP Rocky, or Kendrick Lamar do. In contrast it feels like black men, and black masculinity has been comparatively under explored, and been the subject of much less investigation or understanding.
We read a portrait of black men experiencing racist oppression through the centuries. Five extraordinary men fight against the odds to achieve great things and make their names ring out in history, but all suffer greatly and their lives end in tragic conditions. Ira Aldridge drags himself out of a life of poverty through discovering his acting talent, and makes himself an international star of the stage. Matthew Henson becomes a polar explorer and ends up becoming one of the first men to reach the North Pole, after years of trying and a lot of suffering. Fanon and Malcolm X become some of the greatest revolutionary thinkers and organisers of the 20th century, inspiring millions around the world. And Justin Fashanu becomes of the first black football star players, until his career comes to a crashing halt because he is outed as Gay.
The last chapter, which is autobiographical, is some of the most interesting material in the book. It leaves the reader understanding why Eshun might have decided to write this book.
Eshun examines Black Masculinity through a portrait of five black men, interspersed with reflections on other black men and autobiographical sections about his own experiences. For the five portraits he selects a slice of life and draws them out, but he writes them in the second person. This puts the reader in each character's shoes, perhaps to invite the reader to identify or sympathise with them, and help them to understand them. I wonder if this has been influenced at all by Caleb Azumah Nelson's use of second person narration in his novel Open Water.
This kind of imaginative and sympathetic investigation of black masculinity feels quite unusual and welcome. Black women have been the subject of much sympathetic and imaginative discourse over the last few years. Concepts like the idea of 'woke' were adopted from African American women, and for better or worse have transformed society in recent years, first being adopted and championed by liberals, and now under a counter attack from racists and conservatives. Thinkers and writers like Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Angela Davis, Toni Morrison and more have become elevated, canonised, read and discussed much more in this period. Musicians like Beyonce and Rihanna have cults dedicated to them, in a way that I don't think you could say that Jay Z, or A$AP Rocky, or Kendrick Lamar do. In contrast it feels like black men, and black masculinity has been comparatively under explored, and been the subject of much less investigation or understanding.
We read a portrait of black men experiencing racist oppression through the centuries. Five extraordinary men fight against the odds to achieve great things and make their names ring out in history, but all suffer greatly and their lives end in tragic conditions. Ira Aldridge drags himself out of a life of poverty through discovering his acting talent, and makes himself an international star of the stage. Matthew Henson becomes a polar explorer and ends up becoming one of the first men to reach the North Pole, after years of trying and a lot of suffering. Fanon and Malcolm X become some of the greatest revolutionary thinkers and organisers of the 20th century, inspiring millions around the world. And Justin Fashanu becomes of the first black football star players, until his career comes to a crashing halt because he is outed as Gay.
The last chapter, which is autobiographical, is some of the most interesting material in the book. It leaves the reader understanding why Eshun might have decided to write this book.
April 4, 2025
It’s that perfect thing when you know some of the stories but not everything. I found out things about Malcolm X and Justin Fashanu that I hadn’t known before. I had never heard of the polar explorer and I think that was the best story of all
November 2, 2024
Would I really choose to read a book about a person of the nineteenth century theatre, an Arctic explorer, a footballer (that last you can place in italics)? Frantz Fanon and Malcolm X, maybe. But I did and I am so very glad.
I ordered The Strangers (from my local library) simply because I always appreciated Ekow Eshun years back, on one of those late-night arts discussion television programmes (BBC 2's Late Review, I think it was). So far, so shallow. But, you know, I like how he spoke, so wanted to see how he wrote.
This has been a special week spent with this book. Yes, one you'll miss, probably long into the future. If you need to know, it's a work of creative non-fiction. Stories are imagined, based on parts of the lives of these five men, each one followed by a personal story of the author's. You'll learn about the lives of others, surely different to your own. But that, on this occasion, is merely a bonus.
It is all, quite simply, beautiful. Beautiful writing by this beautiful man.
I ordered The Strangers (from my local library) simply because I always appreciated Ekow Eshun years back, on one of those late-night arts discussion television programmes (BBC 2's Late Review, I think it was). So far, so shallow. But, you know, I like how he spoke, so wanted to see how he wrote.
This has been a special week spent with this book. Yes, one you'll miss, probably long into the future. If you need to know, it's a work of creative non-fiction. Stories are imagined, based on parts of the lives of these five men, each one followed by a personal story of the author's. You'll learn about the lives of others, surely different to your own. But that, on this occasion, is merely a bonus.
It is all, quite simply, beautiful. Beautiful writing by this beautiful man.
November 1, 2024
Ekow Eshun has chosen five very different black men and given insights into their individual lives while showing how black men are ‘strangers’ in the West and sometimes in their own lives. I hadn’t heard of Ira Aldridge, a nineteenth century actor and playwright or Matthew Henson, a polar explorer, and their stories were very interesting. I think having Malcolm X in the book meant a name that everyone (surely?) would have heard of?
My own favourite vignettes were those of Frantz Fanon and Justin Fashanu. I have read Fanon but had no knowledge of his efforts to improve psychiatric care of patients in his early medical career. The difficulty he faces is heartbreaking and definitely give a good sense of the man - and the writer he became. Fashanu is ‘famous’ as the first (only) out footballer in England. I knew that but the story focuses on his early life in care and in foster families and knowing what is coming for him, gives a real pathos to the story. I wanted to warn him and somehow help him.
This is clever and empathetic storytelling and shows Ekow Eshun as a writer of great strength and ability and I’ll be looking out for his work going forward.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
My own favourite vignettes were those of Frantz Fanon and Justin Fashanu. I have read Fanon but had no knowledge of his efforts to improve psychiatric care of patients in his early medical career. The difficulty he faces is heartbreaking and definitely give a good sense of the man - and the writer he became. Fashanu is ‘famous’ as the first (only) out footballer in England. I knew that but the story focuses on his early life in care and in foster families and knowing what is coming for him, gives a real pathos to the story. I wanted to warn him and somehow help him.
This is clever and empathetic storytelling and shows Ekow Eshun as a writer of great strength and ability and I’ll be looking out for his work going forward.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
July 30, 2025
book of the year so far for me! how's he done all of that in 300 odd pages! + there are no genres
August 17, 2025
Completely agree with Bernardine Evaristo : “Genre defying and ingenious, this is creative non-fiction that stirs, challenges and inspires the reader.”
October 30, 2025
Particularly pertinent our book group read this in October’s Black History month and continuing my education about racial differences and subsequent race relations between blacks and whites.
P30 comment “all blacks are condemned to be performers” called to mind work of Lubaina Himid - her parades of large, colourful, cut out characters all portraying the different roles inhabited by black people over the centuries: cooks, singers, bare knuckle fighters and boxers, trapeze artists….
The chapter on polar explorer Matthew Hanson was a very tough read; felt relentless but when he compared the life as Pullman Porter still fearing for his life from threats and attacks by whites, you could see the draw in repeated returns and attempts to surrender and in so doing conquer, the Greenland Pole.
Fantastic that his story was recognised and celebrated by Booker T Washington. Made me understand again just how enormous Obama’s ascendancy to presidency was for more than just the US (& wonder how did we lose our grip on that world/that positive direction we were going in).
Franz the Muslim freedom fighter from Martinique in Algeria - strong parallels with Gaza and Israel today.
Malcolm X chapter - infighting and subsumed by religious zeal of Islam : young men allying to either one of the charismatics made me reflect on fatherless men who find belonging and identity in gangs and then we hear the tragic story of Tupac and later JayZ….
More than needing a voice; generations fighting to be treated as equals to those living alongside them in countries all over the world.
Justin Fashanu - familiar name so it was good to read his backstory which included his friendship with the wise Peter Tatchell. Very sad ending to his life. John F still around.
And finally Ekow’s own story of finally integrating parts of himself with the support of his therapist.
The chapters prompted me to search out more information on each individual ie the portrait of Ira Aldridge in National Portrait Gallery, where I can find the Shonibare’s Hibiscus Rising, Tupac’s raps, Justin Fashenau’s brother….
In X Men Ekow makes refs to double consciousness - welcome to women’s world! For centuries we have lived physically in a male constructed and dominated world whilst psychologically and spiritually alienated from it. But a failure to acknowledge this or recognition of sharing the experience with any minority was maybe my only criticism.
At the end of each chapter Ekow steps away from the fictionalised narrative to share his own interest or thoughts on the black experience : eg Marvel X Men characters and musicianship of Sun Ra to myths of flying skates or descending into the bottom of oceans - it all gets dizzyingly confusing at times but worth continuing.
The very essence of education and why I love reading : it takes me on journeys and shines light into places I’ve perhaps only been dimly aware of before or not thought about for some time …
P30 comment “all blacks are condemned to be performers” called to mind work of Lubaina Himid - her parades of large, colourful, cut out characters all portraying the different roles inhabited by black people over the centuries: cooks, singers, bare knuckle fighters and boxers, trapeze artists….
The chapter on polar explorer Matthew Hanson was a very tough read; felt relentless but when he compared the life as Pullman Porter still fearing for his life from threats and attacks by whites, you could see the draw in repeated returns and attempts to surrender and in so doing conquer, the Greenland Pole.
Fantastic that his story was recognised and celebrated by Booker T Washington. Made me understand again just how enormous Obama’s ascendancy to presidency was for more than just the US (& wonder how did we lose our grip on that world/that positive direction we were going in).
Franz the Muslim freedom fighter from Martinique in Algeria - strong parallels with Gaza and Israel today.
Malcolm X chapter - infighting and subsumed by religious zeal of Islam : young men allying to either one of the charismatics made me reflect on fatherless men who find belonging and identity in gangs and then we hear the tragic story of Tupac and later JayZ….
More than needing a voice; generations fighting to be treated as equals to those living alongside them in countries all over the world.
Justin Fashanu - familiar name so it was good to read his backstory which included his friendship with the wise Peter Tatchell. Very sad ending to his life. John F still around.
And finally Ekow’s own story of finally integrating parts of himself with the support of his therapist.
The chapters prompted me to search out more information on each individual ie the portrait of Ira Aldridge in National Portrait Gallery, where I can find the Shonibare’s Hibiscus Rising, Tupac’s raps, Justin Fashenau’s brother….
In X Men Ekow makes refs to double consciousness - welcome to women’s world! For centuries we have lived physically in a male constructed and dominated world whilst psychologically and spiritually alienated from it. But a failure to acknowledge this or recognition of sharing the experience with any minority was maybe my only criticism.
At the end of each chapter Ekow steps away from the fictionalised narrative to share his own interest or thoughts on the black experience : eg Marvel X Men characters and musicianship of Sun Ra to myths of flying skates or descending into the bottom of oceans - it all gets dizzyingly confusing at times but worth continuing.
The very essence of education and why I love reading : it takes me on journeys and shines light into places I’ve perhaps only been dimly aware of before or not thought about for some time …
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews