Paul Robeson For Beginners - Softcover

Paul Von Blum; Illustrated By Elizabeth Von Notias & Ramsess

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1934389811 ISBN 13: 9781934389812

Publisher: For Beginners, 2013

Synopsis

Paul Robeson, despite being one of the greatest Renaissance figures in American history, still remains in relative anonymity. An exceptional scholar, lawyer, athlete, stage and screen actor, linguist, singer, and civil rights and political activist, he performed brilliantly in every professional enterprise he undertook. Few humans have achieved his levels of excellence in one field, much less several. Any serious treatment of civil rights history and radical politics as well as American sports, musical, theatrical, and film history must consider the enormous contributions of Paul Robeson. And yet, Paul Robeson remains virtually unknown by millions of educated Americans. People typically know him for only one, if any, of the major successes of his life: the concert singer best known for "Old Man River," the star of Shakespeare's Othello on Broadway in the early 1940s, the political activist blacklisted for his radical views and activism during the era of McCarthyism in the 1950s. PAUL ROBESON FOR BEGINNERS is here to demystify and bestow light and long overdue credence to the life of this extraordinary American.

About this title

Product Description:

The popular For Beginners series takes on one of the most important figures of the American Civil Rights movement. Not just fighting against segregation and racism, Paul Robeson aimed to advance the civil rights of all Americans, most famously by standing up to McCarthyism in the1950s. Paul Robeson's life is all the more astonishing for having also been a singer, actor and NFL player. Written in short, humorous and informative chapters and laced with lively drawings, readers are told the story of an important life lived with passion, anger and love.

Review:

"Paul Robeson was among the most famous African Americans in the 1930s. A decade later he was frozen out of the national consciousness, and remains half-forgotten, according to Paul von Blum. In his book "Paul Robeson for Beginners", the academic-activist seeks to introduce Robeson to generations who know him only, if at all, as the husky voiced singer of "Ol' Man River" from "Show Boat". Although blacklisted during the McCarthy era, Robeson had previously been a celebrity college athlete and star of stage and screen at a time when African Americans were given few roles to play." -- "ExpressMilwaukee.com"

"This absorbing documentary proves again the astounding power of visual narrative when wedded to the life story of a truly unique individual." -- "Now Read This!
"
"Paul Robeson was among the most famous African Americans in the 1930s. A decade later he was frozen out of the national consciousness, and remains half-forgotten, according to Paul von Blum. In his book "Paul Robeson for Beginners", the academic-activist seeks to introduce Robeson to generations who know him only, if at all, as the husky voiced singer of "Ol' Man River" from "Show Boat". Although blacklisted during the McCarthy era, Robeson had previously been a celebrity college athlete and star of stage and screen at a time when African Americans were given few roles to play." -- "ExpressMilwaukee.com

"""Paul Robeson For Beginners" . . . [provides] a succinct and superbly presented biographical overview of the life and achievements of a remarkable African-American making it a strongly recommended addition to school and community library African-American Studies and 20th Century American Biography collections and supplemental reading lists." "-- Midwest Book Review"

About this edition

• Publisher: For Beginners
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1934389811
• ISBN 13: 9781934389812
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144