Reviewer: Januarius Asongu, PhD, Chancelor of Saint Monica University, Buea, Cameroon

In Chasing or Being Chased! Deconstructing Hegel’s Vision of the U.S.A., Basile Sede Noujio offers a rich and ambitious exploration of immigration, philosophy, history, and faith, using Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s philosophy of history as a lens for understanding the United States. At its core, the book meditates on the African proverb—“the frog does not run in the daytime for nothing; it is either chasing something or being chased by something”—as a metaphor for the human condition, migration, and America’s story.

Noujio situates Hegel’s grand vision, particularly his idea of America as “the land of the future”, alongside the lived realities of migrants who came to the United States in pursuit of opportunity or in flight from oppression. From European and Latino immigration waves to the enduring struggles of African and Caribbean peoples, the book examines how “push and pull” factors shape both personal destinies and national identity. It also draws attention to Hegel’s troubling racialized view of Africa, which cast Africans as “sub-humans” destined only for slavery —a point that Noujio critiques sharply while urging readers to consider how such distortions of philosophy undergirded colonialism and racism.

What makes the work distinctive is its fusion of Hegelian dialectics with theological reflection. Noujio does not simply recount immigration histories; he frames them as part of a dialectical movement—conflict, displacement, and renewal—that ultimately drives freedom and growth. The book’s conclusion turns explicitly spiritual, reminding readers that beyond physical migration, humanity is also engaged in a spiritual journey: chasing happiness, truth, and God, while also being pursued by challenges, temptations, and cultural forces.

The strength of Chasing or Being Chased! lies in its interdisciplinary sweep. Noujio moves seamlessly between philosophy, theology, history, and politics. His analysis is both scholarly and accessible, with references ranging from Hegel’s Lectures on the Philosophy of History to contemporary debates about secularism, religious liberty, and immigration policy. At times, however, the book’s breadth can feel overwhelming, as the narrative shifts rapidly from abstract philosophy to case studies of immigration. Readers may wish for tighter integration of these strands.

Nevertheless, Noujio succeeds in offering both a critique and a constructive vision. He critiques Hegel’s limited and prejudiced views of Africa while affirming the enduring relevance of his dialectical method for understanding America as a “new world” still in the making. He also calls Christians and all people of conscience to see migration not as a problem to be solved but as a human story demanding dignity, empathy, and moral clarity.

In sum, Chasing or Being Chased! is a thought-provoking contribution to philosophy, theology, and immigration studies. It challenges readers to reflect not only on the history of the United States but also on the deeper question: in our personal and collective lives, are we chasing freedom and truth, or are we being chased by fear, prejudice, and forgetfulness of our moral foundations?

About the Author: Fr. Basile Sede Noujio is a Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Raleigh, NC. Originally from Cameroon, he holds a PhD in Philosophy from Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, specializing in comparative philosophy. He also studied Management Sciences at Sophia University, Florence, and has bachelor’s degrees in philosophy as well as Theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome. He has authored books on topics like Hegel's philosophy of history and cultural comparisons, and is known for his work promoting authentic humanism.