Review of THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION by Russell Freedman

Biography
Freedman, Russell. 2004. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618159765


Plot Summary
On Easter Sunday 1939, a large crowd gathered along the Mall in Washington in anticipation of hearing the voice of the nation’s finest contralto float across the chilly Potomac breeze. But this crowd had shown up for more than a brilliant vocal performance; it was silently demonstrating support for our country's civil rights. Marian Anderson did not consider herself to be a crusader, yet as she stood in the watchful shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, she shone as a beacon for racial justice everywhere. The Voice that Challenged the Nation is a biographical account of the inspiring life of classical vocalist, Marian Anderson. It tells of her humble beginnings in one of Philadelphia’s many multicultural neighborhoods, and it follows her rising career as she travels extensively throughout the Jim Crow infected South: “The Anderson’s bags were taken to the first coach on the train headed south—the Jim Crow coach reserved for blacks. As Marian recalled, the car was dirty inside and out, the windows were badly in need of washing, and the ventilation and lighting were poor.” Unwavering in her musical pursuits, Anderson became a heavily sought-after vocalist and was esteemed by European royalty as well as President Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. So when Anderson was racially spurned by The Daughters of the American Revolution, the public backlash peacefully came to a head on that fateful and historic Easter morning.


Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman paints a beautiful portrait of Marian Anderson. Using precision and a thorough presentation, Freedman details the famed vocalist’s life and the events that led to one of the most poignant moments in our nation’s turbulent history. He opens the book with a nearly poetic account of Anderson’s performance at the Lincoln Memorial: “Clouds, which had shadowed the monument, skittered away to the north, and the late-afternoon sun broke through to bathe the reflecting pool and shine on the gaily dressed Easter crowd.” He continues the book in chronological order of her life, borrowing from Anderson’s autobiography and other first-person accounts. Written for a youthful (ages 12 and up) audience, Freedman succeeds in presenting a richly simplified rendition of Anderson’s bounteous life. He also includes an ample cornucopia of photos that seem to animate the text. A selected bibliography for further reading and a discography of Anderson’s available releases complete this inspiring and historically relevant work.


Review Excerpts
2005 Newbery Honor Book
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
School Library Journal: “This inspiring work once again demonstrates Freedman’s talent for showing how a person’s life is molded by its historical and cultural context.”
Kirkus Review: “Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography.”


Connections:
*Excellent choice for required reading at the junior high level.
*Other books about Marian Anderson:
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Beautiful Morning: An Autobiography. ISBN 9780252070532
Keiler, Allan. Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey. ISBN 9780252070679