New Books in History Ashley D. Farmer, "Queen Mother: Black Nationalism, Reparations, and the Untold Story of Audley Moore" (Pantheon, 2025)
Oct 25, 2025
Dr. Ashley D. Farmer, a celebrated historian and author, dives into the remarkable life of Audley Moore, a pivotal yet often overlooked figure in Black radicalism. They discuss Moore's significant contributions to Black nationalism and the reparations movement. Farmer shares her research journey, revealing the scarcity of archival materials and the challenges in reconstructing Moore's impactful legacy. She emphasizes the essential role of Black women in political movements and how Moore's vision connects grassroots organizing with the fight for nationhood.
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A Thread That Kept Pulling
- Farmer first encountered Moore repeatedly while researching other movements and kept collecting small references until she could pursue a full biography.
- Moore appeared at many moments in 20th-century Black radicalism but lacked a consolidated archive, which delayed her full study.
Garvey Moment That Changed Her Life
- Audley Moore described a transformative moment hearing Marcus Garvey speak in New Orleans that redirected her life toward Black nationalism.
- She joined Garvey's movement, moved to Harlem, later joined the Communist Party, and returned to Black nationalism for the rest of her life.
Archives Fail For Long-Lived Radical Women
- Moore's papers are scarce because she lived across decades, was a woman, and often produced ephemeral work, leaving little conventional archive behind.
- Ashley Farmer used Moore's extensive FBI file as a surrogate archive while questioning the ethics of relying on state surveillance records.
