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Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me: The Life of the Legendary Artist and Activist (Adapted for Young Adults)
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About Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me: The Life Of
Product Description The inspiring life and legacy of vocal artist and civil rights icon Paul Robeson―one of the most important public figures in the twentieth century―adapted for young adults by the acclaimed Robeson biographer "As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this." ―Paul Robeson Paul Robeson was destined for greatness. The son of an ex-slave who upon his college graduation ranked first in his class, Robeson was proclaimed the future "leader of the colored race in America." Although a graduate of Columbia Law School, he abandoned his law career (and the racism he encountered there) and began a hugely successful career as an internationally celebrated actor and singer. The predictions seemed to have been correct―Paul Robeson's triumphs on the stage earned him esteem among white and Black Americans across the country, although his daring and principled activism eventually made him an outcast from the entertainment industry, and his radical views made many consider him a public enemy. With the original biography lavishly praised in the Washington Post as "enthralling . . . a marvelous story marvelously told," this will be a thrilling new addition to the young adult canon. Featuring contextualizing sidebars, explanations of key terms, and photographs from Paul Robeson's life and times, Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me will introduce readers in middle and high school to the inspiring and complicated life of one of America's most fascinating figures, whose story of artistry, heroism, conviction, and conflict is newly relevant today. From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up-Duberman condenses his 1989 biography on the life of Robeson to a manageable 288 pages for young adults. Despite the significant abridgment, the text provides an in-depth look at the complicated life of an important figure in African American history. Born in 1898 to parents who were formerly enslaved, Robeson graduated first in his class from Rutgers in 1919 and then earned a law degree from Columbia University. Disillusioned with the legal field, he took to performing and quickly rocketed to international fame as an actor, singer, and civil rights activist. However, fame did not guarantee control of his career. Robeson found that despite his visibility and critical acclaim, the roles for Black actors were frequently stereotypes that projected the racist messages he fought against. Robeson was a voracious learner, with an interest in political philosophies. He became a supporter of communism but never became a member of the Communist Party. His support drew the scorn of people in the entertainment industry and piqued the attention of the FBI, who hounded him for decades, revoked his passport for many years, and ultimately may have led to the downward trend of his career. Duberman also delves into Robeson's stormy personal life, from his difficult childhood, bumpy marriage, extramarital affairs, being a distant father to his young son, and his bipolar disorder late in life. VERDICT A comprehensive and useful addition for middle and high school collections to pair with Susan Rubin Goldman's Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson.-Karen Bilton, Franklin Township P.L., NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review Praise for Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me:“Before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, Paul Robeson used his gifted baritone voice not only for concerts and theater around the world but to call out racial injustice in his home country. . . . Duberman balances Robeson’s tireless civil rights work with his marital troubles and later mental-health problems. Numerous photographs throughout help document Robeson’s robust life. A powerful tribute to this #BlackLivesMatter predecessor.”—Booklist (starred review)“A history of a global luminary f
