The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Freedman, Russell. 2004. THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS. New York, New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618159762

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this award winning book, The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Freeman traces the career and life long journey of Marian Anderson who is known for her extraordinary contralto singing voice. This book provides insight into the racial discrimination that Anderson faced continually as an African-American artist in the 1930’s. Even though Marian Anderson was not one to speak out against political issues, she became a voice for all black Americans and artist with the help of a political figure and friend, Eleanor Roosevelt. This book also shows the obstacles that faced Marian growing up which included financial barriers and the death of her dad. These hurdles did not prevent Marian from reaching her goal and potential. This book is inspiring and can show readers that perseverance can achieve many things.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Russell Freedman has written over 40 nonfiction books for children. With each one he spends a vast amount of time researching the topic of choice. He chose to write about Marian Anderson because of the involvement between her and Eleanor Roosevelt which eventually led to the famous concert at Lincoln Memorial and began her legacy with the civil rights movement. Most of the sources that Freedman used came from books written by others, published interviews, scholarly articles and newspaper columns. Freedman has provided a Bibliography at the end of the book that tells where his research developed from. At the end of the book Freedman has disclosed a Discography list for readers who are interested in some of Marian Anderson’s earlier recordings.

Freedman doesn’t start this book in a chronological order. He begins it at the famous Lincoln Memorial Concert that was held in Washington at the height of Marian’s career. This concert help jumpstart Marian’s roll in the civil rights movement even though she was not one to voice her opinion or fight over injustices. After the concert Marian had stated, “I did not want to talk,” “and I particularly did not want to say anything about the DAR. As I have made clear, I did not feel that I was designed for hand-to-hand combat, and I did not wish to make statements that I would later regret.”(Freedman, pg. 60) From the concert Freedman takes the reader back in time when Marian’s life began at birth and brings her life’s story forward. Throughout the book Freedman uses direct quotes which give authenticity to the narration (these direct quotes are documented with sources in the back of the book).

The black and white photographs that are throughout the book accent the text and help provide visual imagery of the life Marian Anderson lived. These photographs show concerts, personal appearances, family portraits, pictures of when she was younger and people who were involved in her life. This is a powerful and motivating biography for anyone who has ever had a dream but faced obstacles along the way. It is a wonderful book to use as a tool for discussing the civil rights movement and the impact that people like Marian Anderson had on a nation in turmoil.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Voice of Youth Advocates: “This book is for an older audience than recently published biographies of Anderson and is a superb choice to include in middle school and public library collections.”

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. Readers of Pam Munoz Ryan's When Marian Sang (Scholastic, 2002) will appreciate this lengthier account of Anderson's life, as will all readers of biography, U.S. history, and musical history.”

Publishers Weekly: “Newbery medalist Freedman (Lincoln: A Photobiography) succinctly traces the career of renowned contralto Marian Anderson (1897-1993) from her Philadelphia childhood, when she first revealed her extraordinary voice in church choirs.”

5. CONNECTION

Activity: Create a bioboard on Marrian Anderson. Divide students into groups of 2-3 find a picture of Marrian Anderson. Put her picture in the center of a poster board and create a web of things around it with pictures, clippings, articles etc… of things about Marrian and her life.

Other books to read:

Bridges, Ruby. THROUGH MY EYES. ISBN 9780590189231

Parks, Rosa. ROSA PARKS: MY STORY. ISBN 9780141301204

Pastan, Amy. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ISBN 9780756604912