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So this month’s choice shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody, but there is a reason why I’m choosing it now. I am currently working on the 5th and final episode of the Peekskill Riots docu-series, and during these past few months, I’ve been glued to this book. Since this last episode covers the aftermath of the Peekskill Riots and how it foreshadowed the destruction of Paul Robeson’s career and legacy, it is crucial to portray these events as accurately as possible. However, despite being a significant figure in the 20th century, Robeson’s later years are nowhere near as documented and studied as his life before Peekskill. This in itself is a consequence of the erasure that was done to him during the McCarthy era. Fortunately for us, Martin Duberman swoops in to save the day. I can safely say that this is the best biography I have ever read, and I’m not just saying that because I am now Paul Robeson’s biggest fan. Martin Duberman’s dedication to uncovering every single aspect of Paul’s life needs to be studied, as he went through countless archives, conducted scores of interviews, sued the FBI for access to their file on Robeson, and best of all, provided sources for every single point he makes to present the complete humanity of the ‘Mighty Oak’ we think we know. This is especially the case for the later years of Paul’s life, which were only witnessed by a handful of people close to him. This period of his life destroyed Robeson permanently, and everyone in his inner circles came up with different conclusions as to what happened. Duberman was able to piece together a timeline of events and present credible sources while striking down more fictitious claims over Robeson’s career decline and battle with his physical and mental health. Upon looking up this book you may see its 880-page length and be intimidated. I totally get that but hear me out. Over a third of that length is made up of contextualization for the citations and sources he presents, so in reality the main book is around 500+ pages. If that still sounds like too much then hear me when I say that it flows so well. When I first picked it up I was also intimidated, vowing to only read the first chapter in that initial reading. The next thing I knew it was 2 in the morning and I was over 100 pages in. Rarely has a book pulled me in that much, especially an academically focused biography, but Martin Duberman is just that good of a writer. If you have any interest in Paul Robeson, this book should be on your bookshelf. That’s an order!
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