Beyond Borders: An Immigrant's Journey in a Changing America

After immigrating to America, Quaye made history as the first African to own, edit, and publish a Black American newspaper in upstate New York—the Syracuse Gazette. Quaye’s memoir is a rare and powerful fusion of personal narrative, investigative journalism, and historical analysis. His tenure as editor of the Syracuse Gazette brought him to national attention when the newspaper’s photographer was involved in one of America’s first major cases of police brutality. He worked as assistant editor of the AFRO AMERICAN Weekly in New York City, launching groundbreaking coverage of Africa, and his article “African Stereotype” in Essence Magazine challenged global misconceptions about the African continent.

A pioneer in publishing, Quaye launched multiple ventures to uplift Black voices. He set up a publishing company and provided editing, proofreading, and publishing services to Black American authors, including the prominent scholar and activist, Dr. Amos Wilson for his book titled The Developmental Psychology of the Black Child. He co-authored Free from Death Road with ex-gangster General Davis, the first book co-written by an African author and a former American gangster, and collaborated with authors from diverse backgrounds, including a pastor and a Trinidadian immigrant. His work established him as a force in both African and Black American media and publishing. This is more than a memoir—it’s a front-row seat to history, a masterclass in journalism, and an unfiltered look at the struggle for Black representation in the media.