Outspoken: Paul Robeson, Ahead of His Time: A One-Man Show
by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)
Paul Robeson rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, known for his extraordinary vocal, dramatic, and oratory skills. But he was a true Renaissance man: an accomplished athlete, a bright intellect, and a passionate supporter for humanitarian causes. He displayed his talents on many stages: the pulpit where he filled in for his minister father; on debate, football, baseball, basketball, and track teams; in college and law school classrooms; on the theatrical stage and the silver screen; and behind the podium. Paul Robeson became internationally renowned as a singer and actor, and as his fame grew, so did his unflinching activism against racial injustice. He used the power of his voice to speak out as America’s conscience, but when his nation was not yet willing to listen, he found a more-supportive reception abroad—in Africa, Great Britain, and the USSR. In this moving birth-to-death biography, Carole Boston Weatherford’s poetic first-person narrative, interlaced with excerpts from African American spirituals, pairs with dynamic illustrations by Eric Velasquez capturing Paul Robeson’s commanding presence. Back matter includes a time line, source notes, and bibliography for readers inspired to learn more.
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Publishers Weekly
In comprehensive first-person free verse and oil portraiture, Boston Weatherford and Velasquez reverently draw the life of multifaceted performer, athlete, and activist Paul Robeson (1898-1976) via four acts: Youth, Artist, Activist, Erased. Propulsive text punctuated with song lyrics, many from African American spirituals, record key moments, including the early death of Robeson's mother ("Sometimes I feel like a motherless child"). From college athlete to stage and film actor, and rising to international celebrity, he became "an emissary for universal struggles," singing across Europe and the Soviet Union, and later experiencing repercussions for supporting progressive movements. Without shying away from the varied layers behind his public controversy or the details behind his attempted suicide, the creators painstakingly detail history's intersections in one activist-icon. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Kirkus
JNF007110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Social Activists
