Throughout American history, some Black Americans have chosen to leave the United States in search of greater freedom, safety, and opportunity. This movement, often described as Black American expatriation, reflects a long-standing tension between the promise of equality in the United States and the realities of racist discrimination and violence. In the 19th century, some free Black Americans participated in back-to-Africa movements which promoted settlements in places such as Liberia, while others relocated to Canada or Europe to escape the restrictions of enslavement and segregation. During the 20th century, artists and intellectuals including James Baldwin and Josephine Baker chose to live abroad for extended periods, often describing foreign countries as places where they could experience a greater sense of dignity and personal freedom. Although experiences vary widely, expatriation has often been understood as both a personal decision and a broader response to social conditions in the United States.

In People Like Us, this historical pursuit of sanctuary is reimagined through the narrator’s journey. His agent tells him that in Europe, “They know how to treat people like you” (32), and a wealthy benefactor offers him a new life on an “Other Continent” (80), free from America’s dangers. This idea of an entirely new place to exist parallels 19th-century desires to move to Liberia, imagining a home entirely outside the social constructs of racism and cultural erasure. Similarly, the desire to travel or live abroad shown by the unnamed narrator and other artists he encounters reflects a search for safety and belonging that echoes earlier generations of Black American artists who looked beyond the United States for a more secure or meaningful life. At the same time, the novel raises questions about whether true escape is possible, suggesting that personal identity and historical experience remain deeply connected to the United States even when characters attempt to distance themselves from it. The novel thus interrogates whether a geographical escape can truly offer liberation from deeply ingrained social and cultural wounds.