In Ballad of An American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson, Sharon Rudahl tells the story of athlete, scholar, singer, actor, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson in Rutgers University Press’s first graphic novel as part of the University's celebration of Robeson and the Class of 1919 Centennial. They go so far as to list Buhle first on the 'About the Authors Page.' What are they communicating with this, intentionally and unintentionally? Read more I can vouch for the singing, as I went ahead and bought one of music compilations after I finished the book.Robeson had some mental health issues late in life, and I was intrigued by the theory that he may have suffered CTE due to his early and rough football career at Rutgers University and the nascent NFL.Unrelated to my rating, I find it odd that the male editors share nearly equal cover billing with the female writer/artist. I couldn't recall ever hearing of him before, but in looking for his music on YouTube, I at least recognized his clip of 'Old Man River' from the Showboat musical.He seems to have been an impressive athlete, singer, actor, and political activist.

I wasn't overly impressed with the writing and drawing - it's one of those graphic novels where the text and art fight for space on the page - but I found myself quite fascinated with Paul Robeson's life. Study guide for Ballad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson (). This graphic biography will enable all kinds of readers-especially newer generations who may be unfamiliar with him-to understand his life’s story and everlasting global significance.īallad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson is published in conjunction with Rutgers University’s centennial commemoration of Robeson’s 1919 graduation from the university. Ballad of an American features beautifully drawn chapters by artist Sharon Rudahl, a compelling narrative about his life, and an afterword on the lasting impact of Robeson’s work in both the arts and politics. Later in life, he embraced the civil rights and antiwar movements with the hope that new generations would attain his ideals of a peaceful and abundant world.

Robeson was a major figure in the rise of anti-colonialism in Africa and elsewhere, and a tireless campaigner for internationalism, peace, and human rights. Through his films, concerts, and records, he became a potent symbol representing the promise of a multicultural, multiracial American democracy at a time when, despite his stardom, he was denied personal access to his many audiences.

The first-ever graphic biography of Paul Robeso n, Ballad of an American, charts Robeson’s career as a singer, actor, scholar, athlete, and activist who achieved global fame.

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