Won (
PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Book Award for 2017)
"Historian Horne delivers a fine, taut analysis of the great African American athlete, singer, actor, and political activist, highlighting the theme of the artist as revolutionary. A welcome addition for any library, small or large. Highly recommended."
(
Choice)
"Horne has made an amazing contribution to African American radical history with the newly published biography
Paul Robeson: The Artist as Revolutionary. I devoured [it] in one sitting. In a relatively short book, Horne has captured the essence of Paul Robeson as both a domestic leader for African American equality, as well as an international icon promoting decolonization
and socialism on a world stage. I hope a new generation of activists - Black and white - read Horne's insightful book." (
People's World)
''Horne gives us the Paul Robeson we’ve been waiting for: the flesh and blood revolutionary, artistic genius, and fearless opponent of capitalism, racism and colonialism. He recovers in meticulous scholarly detail one of the 20th century’s greatest freedom fighters. Horne also brings Robeson to life for our own times. This is a brilliant encore for an essential revolutionary life." - Bill V. Mullen, Purdue University, author of
Afro-Orientalism (
Bill V. Mullen, Purdue University, author of Afro-Orientalism)
"Powerfully affirms that Robeson’s global artistic acclaim infuriated defenders of U.S. foreign policy while giving voice to earlier and later generations of black socialist radical artists. Horne portrays the tragedies faced by and the impact possible for politically conscious black artists in the face of racial caricature and American imperialism. Drawing attention to Robeson’s oratory this study reflects the cultivation of debate, law, and linguistics in Black cultural life and the role of Robeson’s universalist musicology." - Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, UC Irvine (
Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, UC Irvine)
"An original and powerful biography of Paul Robeson by today’s most productive scholar of African American history: Gerald Horne. Through focusing on his artistry as an actor, global travels, passion for languages, and struggles against U.S. cold warriors, Horne brilliantly brings to life Robeson’s commitment to racial equality, socialism, decolonization, peace, and internationalism. This book would have made Robeson proud." (
Erik S. McDuffie, University of Illinois)
"Horne’s book is fine introduction to the man, his work and more importantly his ideas. The book succinctly charts the evolution of this singular and exemplary Artist, who used his vast talent, intellect and renown to fight for the rights and dignity of the oppressed and exploited of the world. A valuable work that clarifies the distinction between genuine fame and the simple vacuous celebrity obsessions of our time." (
Billy Woodberry, leading director of the L.A. Rebellion (Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers))