“Alan Huffman is a brilliant storyteller who pulls off a difficult story with breathtaking skill, taking us from the antebellum South to war-torn Liberia. An absolute pleasure to read.” – Sebastian Junger
 
“A superior historical and journalistic investigation, tracing the lives and legacies of freed slaves in American and Africa… Thought-provoking and expertly told – and a most promising debut.”– Kirkus Review
  
“A great story. In the journey from Mississippi to Liberia, Huffman has uncovered a fascinating tale that’s spent too long in obscurity.” – San Francisco Chronicle (Best Books of 2004)
 
“Huffman is a patient, confident storyteller who lingers over the details until they come to life… With Mississippi in Africa, as with Edward Ball’s Slaves in the Family , one is reminded that inside every one of us lives all the drama, irony, and cataclysm of history.” The Boston Globe
 
“Mississippi in Africa will be a work of enduring interest because of Huffman’s skill in doing two things – telling the personal and individual stories in a humane and compelling fashion and setting the entire story in a broad historical and national context.” - Biloxi Sun-Herald
 
“Provides extraordinary insight.” – The New York Times Book Review
 
“An amazing tale… The book is a page-turner, illuminating a history little discussed in the United States and deserving of our attention.” - Newsday
 
“Powerful.” – The Los Angeles Times