When We Are Kin: The History and Future of Afro-Indigenous Solidarity

by Kyle T Mays

A bold vision for a Black and Indigenous future rooted in real solidarity, a future that exists beyond the confines of the liberal imagination



Current advocates of reparations for slavery and land back often fail to scrutinize racial capitalism and settler colonialism, instead accepting that their destinies will forever be tied to US empire. But as scholar Kyle T. Mays insists in When We Are Kin, we can and should demand a kind of repair that goes beyond a white supremacist idea of what justice can be. 



In a series of short essays, Mays traces the history of alliances between Black and Indigenous movements; outlines the limitations of certain demands for reparations, including cash payments, that do not fundamentally critique racial-settler capitalism; and interrogates contemporary land back initiatives that fail to fully address decolonization. Along the way, he asks, What does solidarity look like between Black and Indigenous peoples in the United States? Can we find ways to co-belong and co-resist on Turtle Island?



Drawing on the Anishinaabe philosophy of mino-bimaadiziwin (the good life), Mays argues that we can resist as kin only when we center the land in building our collective futures. 

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

Reviews

[Lauren Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is very well written. It is not a book for those seeking academic discourse in a traditional sense. This book is widely accessible and readable for many people.
The author's writing style reflects the way she speaks. I love this. This makes the book much more accessible to non academic readers, I often find that when I recommend books to non academics about politics the books are very heavy and difficult to digest to your average reader. While reading academic texts on Afro-Indigenous politics, I have found that many authors tend to be overly pedantic, often pontificating for several chapters without trying to be accessible to their community. This is a huge problem. HUGE.

This is a long-standing problem with books about geopolitical topics, racial theories, and even in some cases, history. This book doesn't have this problem. The book is well cited, and it is clear the author is well-read in African American politics as well as Indigenous politics.

As someone well-versed in African American studies, I found the information on Indigenous peoples to be extremely helpful. The author discusses failed policies and treaties of the American government very well. The author also points out each time the American government has not upheld promises given to both groups of people.

The author makes it clear that the only path forward for Indigenous people and African Americans is a path together. The path should not seek to validate or join in to capitalism. Instead, something new must be created that involves both peoples while acknowledging our tied oppression and history.
This book is a good starting point for people who are not familiar with Land Back or reparations within Indigenous and Black communities. I found the author's take on forty acres and a mule to be very interesting. Perhaps this is something that can be further discussed with FBA and Indigenous folks. While reparations and Land Back are needed, we cannot have one without the other, and one group cannot ignore the needs of the other.

The author has several valid critiques of both communities and offers solutions to long-term and complicated problems with both communities under the structure of white supremacy and capitalism. I would recommend this book to anyone that has recently (has always) questioned the imperialism of the United States, capitalism, or zionism.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big nonfiction reader but this pulled me in! I found Kyle T. Mays' authentic conversational style engaging, refreshing and accessible, as was his intention as stated at the beginning of the book. These essays are packed with truths and analyses, unpacking the complex, harrowing consequences of settler colonialism, racism and capitalism through an Afro-Indigenous lens. Needless to say, as a German native, I learnt A LOT. Not only new language--again, in a very accessible way--but Kyle T. Mays dives deep into the complications around and his vision for Afro-Indigenous Solidarity, which proved an important, eye-opening counter narrative for what little I'd been taught about these matters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Haymarket Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!