PAUL ROBESON

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.