Paul Robeson No one can silence me : adapted for young adults

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. So how did he become largely forgotten as an early civil rights leader? Duberman takes on the many sides of Robeson in this detailed, young-adult adaptation of his original, scholarly biography. He touches upon Robeson's childhood during Jim Crow segregation in the early 1900s before highlighting his athleticism and education as the only Black student at Rutgers University and his switch from a dead-end career in law to a life-changing one in entertainment. As the actor and singer gained influence, he used his power to change roles that stereotyped African Americans and became involved with activist causes. After witnessing fascism and Nazism abroad, Robeson championed the Soviet ideals of equality. The author dedicates a large portion of the book to the effects of this decision. Deemed a Communist during the McCarthy era, Robeson was blacklisted, had his passport revoked, and garnered mixed feelings from the Black community. 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.

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., NJ

The definitive biography of 20th-century Renaissance man Robeson, whose signature legacy of merging arts and activism serves as a timely message for a new generation of change-makers, is here adapted for younger audiences. In the foreword of this work that is deserving of deep engagement, Jason Reynolds invites readers into the story of this world-famous Black entertainer whom he sees as "perhaps the greatest reminder of the possibilities of a single person." The son of an escaped slave, Robeson became a superstar college athlete, valedictorian, lawyer, actor, singer, globe-trotter, polyglot, and committed humanitarian. Yet, as his involvement in freedom struggles for Black Americans and working people's struggles around the world clashed with Cold War--era conservatism, his unparalleled legacy has been erased from public memory. Readers will connect with Robeson's miraculous and hard-fought rise, from his unprecedented success in Hollywood to his yearslong struggle with the U.S. government to reinstate his passport, confiscated due to McCarthyist opposition to his political activities. The work balances his achievements despite overwhelming odds with his human vulnerabilities and missteps. Archival images and text boxes offer historical context, presenting details of Robeson's bold stands that will resonate with new generations familiar with Black public figures like Colin Kaepernick and Maya Moore. A history of a global luminary figure that serves as a reminder of the courageous freedom-fighting work in front of us. (further information, Robeson's music and movies, sources, image credits, index) (Biography. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.