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

Written by Russell Freedman

Narrated by Sharon Washington

Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, The Voice That Challenged a Nation is an inspiring biography. In the 1930s, black singer Marian Anderson was not allowed to perform at Constitution Hall. But with help from Eleanor Roosevelt, Anderson staged an amazing concert at the Lincoln Memorial and became an activist for civil rights.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 2, 2008
• ISBN: 9781436134910

Russell Freedman

Russell Freedman (1929-2018) received the Newbery Medal for Lincoln: A Photobiography. He was the recipient of three Newbery Honors, a National Humanities Medal, the Sibert Medal, the Orbis Pictus Award, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and was selected to give the 2006 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. Mr. Freedman lived in New York City and traveled widely to research his books.

Reviews for The Voice that Challenged a Nation

[electrascaife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A biography of Marian Anderson, the singer who broke barriers for the Civil Rights Movement and also for people of color in the music industry and sang one famous Easter Sunday on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Intended for young people, this book is a good introduction to Anderson and her influence, although it can be a bit dry at times.

[jenica_flores-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This took place in a time where whites and people of color were separated. The whites were far more superior than the people of color. A woman wanted to be a singer, but she was scared that she would not be able to accomplish this due to her color. She got approval from President Roosevelt to be a singer and she sang in front of the whole nation. I would read this book to 3rd through 5th grade. I would use this book to teach my students to treat everyone equally and to not see color. Also to chase their dreams even if it hasn’t been done before.

[michaela.bushey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice that Challenged a Nation is a fantastic biography of Marian Anderson, the first female African American opera singer to achieve fame and success in Europe and the United States. Her success, however, did not protect her from the harsh racism that was still abundant in the US for the majority of her life. She handled it all with grace, charisma, and intelligence, but most of all with the professionalism and beauty of a true artist. Hers is an inspiring story that will have you cheering for her from the very first page - not only for her, but for the equal treatment of all.This book would be perfect for a social studies unit on civil rights, especially focusing on the events leading up to the movement itself. In addition, it would bring greater understanding to a music classroom studying the genre of opera. Important discussions about equality and what it really means to live in a democracy would easily be brought to a class through this book.

[areamatha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The voice that challenged a nation: Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights, by Russell Freedman, is about the life of Marian Anderson and her dream of singing. She overcame many obstacles: racial prejudices, finical difficulties, etc… to achieve her dream of singing in the metropolitan opera. She also was a civil rights icon despite the fact that, that was not what she wanted. She sang in front of the Lincoln Memorial when the DAR denied her the use of Constitution Hall. I liked this book but I would not use it in a lesson. She was a reluctant civil rights icon not an activist. She just wanted to sing not make a political statement. I don’t feel this would be useful in a lesson on the civil rights era.As to the style of the book, the book ideas are clearly organized. The author makes the language very accessible to the reader. The language is rather vivid. The text is very engaging and uses many narratives and anecdotes. The tone of the book is conversational.

[sandra_loya_9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is about the life and career of Marian Anderson. She was a black woman with a miraculous voice trying to build her career during a time of segregation. Her life is full of struggles, heartbreak, and triumph. It was hard for her to even get her voice her by professionals at the beginning. She went all over the world building her reputation as a top artist. She came back to the U.S., only to find that the racial wall was still there regardless of who she was. Although she was not a fighter, her voice was used to break down that barrier.The author of this book has written many autobiographies and history books for young readers. He has won many awards. This leads to the accuracy of this book. He also has chapter notes to back up his facts so we don’t have to just take his word for it.He covers Anderson’s entire life from her falling in love with singing, losing her father, struggles to make is as a black artist, her success around the world, to her breaking down the race barrier here in the U.S. The details given on her life go very deep into every facet of her struggle to make it. The author’s focus is to show the difference she made through her success and amazing voice.The author’s style was very factual. He seemed to be just telling her story. He did use language that was quite vivid and allowed you to see the scene clearly and moved you emotionally at times. You can clearly understand how Marian feels at many points.Freedman starts out setting the scene of the high point in Marian’s career, her performance at the Lincoln Memorial: the taking of a stand and refusing to give up. From there, he starts back at the beginning when she was a child and fell in love with music and progresses mainly chronologically in a narrative format.The table of contents’ headings may not be clear at first but build curiosity and are made clear pretty quickly. The chapter notes clarify the accuracy of the information and the bibliography allows you to find further information. It is not your typical bibliography nor is it an annotated bibliography. It is laid out in more of a paragraph form that lets you know what the source is about. There is also a discography should you want to find her music. The picture credits obviously give credit to the source of the photographs. The photos are interspersed throughout the book and follow along with the narrative. They help you to see the story. These are not only pictures of the people but of the places and programs of her performances. Finally, there is an index that will allow you to locate what you are looking for quickly.Overall, I was not the biggest fan of this book. It is an amazing story of an amazing woman and something that I knew nothing about. I found myself many times thinking “just get on with it already”. It felt slow moving. While some people may find the slow pace captivating, I found it tiring. I found many of the events quite interesting but the pace of getting from one to the other made it seem to take forever.This book would be great to have in a classroom as a selected biography. I think it is an interesting story that needs to be heard. I am not sure if it would make for a full lesson but it would be great to have it as a resource in the classroom.

[kimberlyhebert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book by Russell Freedman provides an interesting portrait of a singer I previously knew little about; Marian Anderson. It follows her life story, beginning with her early childhood and following up until her death at the age of 96 in 1993. Marian Anderson never expected to become an activist in the struggle for equal rights, and away from the concert stage she valued her privacy and preferred a quiet life. Disliking confrontations, she never felt comfortable at the center of public controversy. However, she fought hard to win her place in American music history. While pursuing her career, she was forced to challenge racial barriers simply to succeed as a singer. Marian Anderson's exceptional musical gifts and her uncompromising artistic standards made it possible for her to break through racial barriers. She became a role model, inspiring generations of African American performers who followed her. Freedman writes, "it was the strength of her character, her undaunted spirit and unshakable dignity that transformed her from a singer to an international symbol of progress in the advancement of human rights." With this sentiment, I very much agree. Well into her career she was still turned away from restaurants and hotels, and it took recognition in Europe for her to gain access to many of the prestigious concert halls in the United States. However, her unfaltering determination and dignity helped to change history for black performers as we know it, and for that we remain thankful.

[amynorthmartinez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Written by Russell Freedman, author of 40+ children’s nonfiction books. The book tells Marian Anderson’s life story in eight chapters. Mr. Freedman begins in 1939 with Marian’s powerful performance at the Lincoln Memorial, and a symbolic victory for civil rights. He then goes back in time to tell Marian’s story from the beginning. Mr. Freedman uses quotes from her autobiography and other biographical writings. There are approximately 70 photographic illustrations, including programs, performance announcements, newspaper clippings, and photos of Marian, her family, and her musical colleagues. There are also photos that are not directly from Marian’s life, that are used to reinforce the accounts of civil rights violations of Marian’s time. The book concludes with a series of access features: including chapter notes, a selected bibliography, a discography of releases from 1990 to 2000, and a textual index of topics and important people.

[dhut0042 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Russel Freedman's "The Voice That Challenged a Nation" tells of singer Marian Anderson, born around the turn of the last century in South Philadelphia, whom, after becoming a world-renowned contralto singer, used her talent and fame as a platform to support the civil rights movement. The book begins with a introduction to her most famous concert on Easter Sunday in 1939, when she was invited to perform at the Lincoln Memorial by Eleanor Roosevelt after being barred from performed at Constitution Hall by the conservative political group the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her performance to 75,000 people in front of the monument was an important moment in history, as it illustrated a first in African American performances to an integrated audience in the United States.The book then proceeds to tell of her early life when she performed at the Union Baptist Church where she and her family worshiped to her aunt charging money for her to sing, billed as the "baby contralto, ten years old." During the entirety of the publication, Freedman's voice as narrator is sure and confident, likely due to his extensive research on Marian's life and the people surrounding her and her career, as documented in the extensive chapter notes and bibliography at the end. After being rejected from several singing schools due to her race, the book tells of her touring with Billy King and her meeting with Giuseppe Boghetti, which served as a gateway for her to tour in Europe.After playing for royalty with her Finnish pianist Kosti Vehamen, she gained Eleanor Roosevelt as a fan, and sang for the president as well as the King and Queen of England. It was after this point that she sang at the famous performance on Easter Sunday in 1939. The publication then goes on to detail her performances having to do with civil rights, including during the Civil Rights March on Washington in 1963, as well as her marriage to her high school sweetheart Orpheus Fisher. Marian Anderson lived to be ninety-six years old and was able to see the transformation of her people and of the United States from the turn of the last century towards contemporary times.In terms of an age group, I would say that this book, due to its length, would be appropriate for a High School civics class, but excerpts could certainly be read to children in middle and elementary school. The book is beautifully written and goes on to explain historical differences dealing with discrimination in a sensitive, professional manner. The story itself is inspirational, and shows a compassionate woman who was willing to forgive and believed that "you lose a lot of time hating people."

[mdaniel54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is a comforting notion that good art is blind, able to be enjoyed by any that open themselves up to it. Yet, there are always exceptions. In 1939, Marian Anderson, a world-renowned singer, was denied the ability to perform at a prestigious concert in Washington because of the color of her skin. Ultimately, it would prove that she had a voice capable of bringing down walls, but these barriers would take a bit louder volume before giving way.Russell Freedman, author of The Voice of a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights, was aware of the musical works of Marian Anderson, but had no intention of writing about her until he learned of the grand political effect she had. With the endorsement of the first family, Anderson would perform a historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Monument that would impact the lives of many. It was a fitting locale for such a moment given the cultural resonance of Lincoln's past with African-Americans.Freedman begins the book on the day of said concert. By doing so, he sticks readers right in the historical thick of things and immediately draws eyes. If, as had happened in his own life, he had begun with simple cursory knowledge of Anderson, perhaps the book could've started on the wrong foot. This way, there is instant recognition of the significance of the moment. In closing, he gives a brief overview of Anderson's accomplishments and discusses the political relevance she held. As the best art tends to do, her work transcended the pop label and effected culture itself.

[l_fields_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman is an excellent biography of a remarkably talented woman whose pursuit of art affected politics and society benefiting future generations. Freedman is described at the end of the book as an “acclaimed author.” He has won awards for his children’s books, but there is no mention of an educational or personal background that would lend authority to this book. The extensive quotes throughout the book and then cited in the chapter notes does offer credibility to the scholarship of this book. The selected bibliography is very helpful, while not in the usually list fashion, the author describes the sources giving the reader more insight into how the book was researched. Freedman also provides a comprehensive index.The scope of The Voice that Challenged a Nation is Marion Anderson‘s life and career as a contralto, but the focus was clearly her influence on the civil rights movement. The first chapter opened with the scene of Anderson’s historic concert on the Mall. Freedman delivered this story with clear prose. He uses surprisingly simple language to convey this story while never condescending to his reader. Except for the foreshadowing in the beginning of the book, The Voice that Challenged a Nation is chronological aided by informative and impactful photographs on every other page. Freedman effectively gives a portrait of Marian Anderson using her own words to express her observations and feelings. The only perhaps odd part about the whole book was an omission, probably on purpose to not distract form the focus. Freedman states that Anderson was in Europe, in the early and middle 1930’s, during the rise of fascist regimes, and does not address European politics. One can infer after reading this book that Anderson, seemingly apolitical and adverse controversy, had little to say at the time of the governments, but as a reader the exclusion was notable.

[nmillsio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Russell Freedman’s book, The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights, because with the help of well placed and smartly chosen pictures from her life, it delivers the critical information in a dry, yet impactful style. The chronologically presented facts do the talking, and the reader is not subjected to Freedman’s two cents. This book reads exactly as it should, as a biographical summary of Marian Anderson’s inspirational fight against segregation. A lower or middle student could easily employ this book as a reference tool for a report on the famous singer; it is concisely written and void of the narrative fluff we have encountered in other nonfiction titles this spring. This straightforward, journalistic approach to covering the life of an American hero makes for a dense, yet very satisfying read.Freedman’s biographical account keeps a neutral tone, happy to unemotionally, yet fairly describe Howard University’s attempts to persuade the Daughters of the American Revolution to allow Marian Anderson to sing in Washington’s Constitutional Hall. The language is very precise, and all referenced accounts are well organized and well documented. I’ve come to the realization that in a nonfiction story, the use of chapter notes are a must in my opinion; they are a first and absolute step in convincing the reader that the subject and sourced information have been represented accurately. It feels necessary to mention on style week that I recently read When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, which was an equally effective depiction of the great singer, but for different reasons. Ryan’s book targets younger readers, and certainly took more artistic liberties by including more informal, conversational text, and by relying heavily on the fantastic illustrations by Brian Selznick. It was meant to feel more personal in comparison to Freedman’s clear-cut reporting. In fact, without the expressive photographs that frequent The Voice, it would offer as much style as a passage from an old encyclopedia. Maybe the two most expressive pictures are found on the covers of the book; Anderson singing at Lincoln Memorial on the front and a soulful portrait of the singer on the back. It’s important to realize when juxtaposing these two books how stylistically different the same story can be effectively presented.

[mols1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This biography by Russell Freedman is a wonderful introduction to Marian Anderson, the African-American contralto whose concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 was a landmark in the fight for Civil Rights. Starting with her birth and early life in Philadelphia, Freedman takes the reader through the harsh times of poverty and racial segregation, when Anderson's church had to raise funds to send her to high school and to help her study music. The beginning of the book works as a lead up to a number of chapters about the Daughters of the American Revolution refusing to let Anderson sing at Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall, and the decision to have a concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead. Although this was a defining event in Anderson's life, the book does not cover the rest of her life after the concert in as great of detail. That being said, this is overall a very good book, with an easy to read layout. Freedman also includes a selected bibliography (although one which I find odd-it's written in paragraph form), an extensive index, and a selected discography, something I think is likely unique to this book, and something which I really appreciated.If I were using this book to teach, I think it would be a good selection for a fine arts class, and would definitely be appropriate to use in American History, in a section on the Civil Rights movement, as I feel the main focus of the book was ultimately to recognize the historical importance of Anderson's 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert.

[mwbordel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Voice that Challenged a Nation is the story of Marian Anderson. Anderson was born in 1897 and grew up in south Philadelphia. Her church recognized her talents as a contralto when she was only 8 years old and helped raise the money that she needed for lessons. She began touring the country singing at black churches and colleges. She won the prestigious the Lewisohn Stadium competition in 1925 beating 300 rivals. She decided to go to Europe to study Italian and German so that she could be better equipped to sing operas and further her career. Marian Anderson was celebrated in Europe as the voice of a century, however, in the 1920's when Anderson returned home racism and prejudice still haunted her. Despite having the strong support of the President's wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in Constitution Hall in Washington, DC because it was owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and no people of color were allowed to sing in their hall. That refusal led to Marian performing instead from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a crowd of 75,000 people on the Mall and a nationwide radio audience. The book goes on to tell about Mariah’s influence on Jim Crow by refusing to play for segregated audiences. Most of the story is written chronologically beginning with Marian at an early age and ending with her memorial service. The tone and language was easy to read. There are several photographs, chapter notes, a selected bibliography of works for both adult and younger readers, and a selected discography of currently available Anderson CDs included. There is also an index and a table of contents.Before picking this book up, I didn't really know who Marian Anderson was. When I think of the Civil Rights movement, I think of the main people associated with that- the ones you learn about in school- Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and the Montgomery, AL bus boycotters, etc. The title had me intrigued from the beginning. I really liked that she did not set out to be a political activist or a crusader for civil rights however she was instrumental in ending segregation in the arts. I would say that I felt like the title had me thinking she was more of an activist that what the book showed she was. I could easily use this book in a middle school history classroom. I think this would be a great book to show how performers were affected by Jim Crow.

[karennunez-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice That Challenged A Nation Marian Anderson and the Struggle For Equal Rights by Russell Freedman. Freedman did a fantastic job showing the readers who Marian Anderson was and what she stood for. The story tells how Ms. Anderson loved to sing and listen to others sing since she was a child. She even says in the book that when she was able to go to music class she was, “the happiest child in the school” (p. 5). Through her life she sang with church choirs, benefits, and community events. The story tells of Ms. Anderson’s family life and how poor they were. While her dad was alive Marian’s dad borrowed a piano for his girls to play. He also loved to spend time with his family and take them on picnics. However, John Anderson died 1909 and financially the family had to move in with family members. For Marian Anderson to move on with her schooling, musical as well as academically, her church raised funds for her. And any time money needed to be raised to help Marian become a better singer, her church friends found a way to help. In her later years she received a Doctorate of Music. Marion’s mother kept working to support their family and she was determined to keep the family together. Marian Anderson had her mother’s determination to succeed. Through the whole story Freedman let us, the readers, know that Marian Anderson never forgot her family. It was mentioned a number of times that she gave money to her mom and sisters. Also, once she was making enough money herself she bought a house for her mother. Marian Anderson’s church family and biological family loved her. And, as she became more famous, many other appreciated her skills and poise. She studied in many countries as well as the United States to be the best that she could be. She was a renowned artist. When faced with segregation she did what was expected of her because she did not like confrontations. However, after studying in overseas and being allowed to sing in the best theatres and in front of royalty, she became upset that in her own country she wasn’t allowed the same rights because of her color. In her travels she sang for President Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. Marian became friends with Mrs. Roosevelt. Marian Anderson faced adversity and confronted controversial issue because of her color. During one part of her career she need a larger hall. However, because she was black she was not allowed to sing in the hall of her pickings, Constitution Hall. The D.A.R (Daughters of the American Revolution) officials had decided their policy was, “white artists only.” On page 55 a newspaper clipping titled “Mrs. Roosevelt Quits D.A. R.” let us truly know that Mrs. Roosevelt worked tirelessly for racial equality and she did not want her name linked with these people. This then led Marian Anderson to give a free concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial. She sang in front of 75,000 people. She then went on with her career, married her high school friend, and died on April 8, 1993 at ninety-six years old.The book was well written and easy to read. I believe it would be a good resource for student in middle and high to use in history class. The cover was not showy or flashy; it had a more restrained look. It was a good pick for the book because she Anderson herself was and she had to restrain herself many times to obey rules she didn’t agree with. The title shows exactly what the book was about, Ms. Anderson’s voice. Marian Anderson’s whole life revolved around her love of singing and later her singing career. The end page has the title The Voice that Challenged a Nation only, nothing flashy. The Title Page is typed in print and Marian Anderson’s name is typed in cursive. This gave me the impression that the story is more about her. Across from the title page is a photograph of just Mrs. Anderson by herself. This alone also let me know the book is about her. The copyright right page is plain. There isn’t a synopsis, yet there is a contents section. Dedication page is simple with an elegant writing. The Table of Contents also is elegantly done. The number of the chapters are in cursive and the title of the chapters are in print. The chapters are very helpful in that they each tell what happens in the chapter that is important. Chapter One gives an overview of what happened to make a change in our country. Then Chapters Two through Eight were her life’s accomplishments and her death. Each chapter starts with a photograph that represents what the chapter is about. Also each chapter starts with a quote, except for Chapter Eight, which is about Marian. Each quote comes from the book, a spiritual song, or Marian Anderson’s words. I really enjoyed the photographs. They showed you who Anderson was and what the story was about. They also gave accreditation for the information in the text. Toward the end of the book there is a photograph of Marian Anderson and her mother. This photo tells what type of person this fantastic artist was. There are good chapter notes with the abbreviations and citations to the sources of quoted material in the text by chapters. The Bibliography shows that Freedman used books, articles, interviews, informational scholarly articles, a documentary, as well as, other items to write the book. He also shows some recent recording available in his Selected Discography. The book has an Acknowledgment and Picture Credits page, and lastly the Index. The index not only has a listing and page number, but it also goes further to give more findings on that specific listing. Nicely done! Another photo follows. The information about the author seems okay. He seems to have written a number of nonfiction books and he has won awards. However, nothing is said about his background knowledge or his education. The back endpages show books written by Russell Freedman. This was a nice touch in case I wanted to read more of his works.In all I think Mr. Russell Freedman did a fantastic job writing about Marian Anderson.

[erinchauff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights” by Russell Freedman is about the singer’s musical career during the pre-Civil Rights Era. The book’s introduction captures a seminal moment for Marian Anderson and many other African Americans – Easter Sunday, 1939. Anderson sang on the Lincoln Memorial before 75,000 people. Because she was African American, Anderson had been banned from Constitution Hall, so the free outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial became a powerful stance against segregation. The conclusion to the book explains the impact that this quiet, non-confrontational singer had on the Civil Rights Movement. Anderson was revered in Europe but made to go through the back door in her own country. Her dignity and talent, however, spoke more about her ancestry than she ever could.Freedman, the book’s author and three-time Newbery Award winner, has written more than 40 books. Freedman writes very objectively, almost a bit clinically, about his subject. It is obvious a great amount of research has gone into the book. Direct quotes are used throughout as Freedman follows Anderson from elementary school to her death in 1993. Many people know about Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial and what it meant for African Americans, so it makes good sense for Freedman to start the book there. His language is simple and his tone is a bit detached. The book focuses on Anderson’s experiences as a hugely talented black woman in a world that saw her color first.The book is organized chronologically, and each chapter includes both a title and a quote to introduce it. The book includes chapter notes, a bibliography, discography, and an index. A photograph is on nearly every page. Copies of printed musical programs and newspaper articles are included.

[hsbrouss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman was an interesting read. It is very informational and a pure biographical account of Marian Anderson and her life as it played out through her singing career and the background that was much bigger than she could imagine where her career and success lied parallel to that of the success of her brothers and sisters. I will start digging into this book by first examining the title and cover of the book. I had no idea of who Marian Anderson was before reading this book. Was it a man, a woman? Was it a civil rights activist? I liked that the title didn't give me any information that she was a singer. The "voice" could have just meant the person who stood up for something. The cover of the hardback version that I got my hands on had rather large font and was in antique colors, golds and neutrals. In the background of the font was a picture of someone speaking at a podium. It cannot be assessed that it is a person singing. Was she the Marian Anderson from the title? A reader would have to turn the page to soon find out! On the inside of the cover was a short biographical synopsis to help me gain more information on to what I would be reading. This book begins with a concert at Lincoln Memorial. The reader is now knowledgeable of who Marian Anderson is. She is a singer. The beginning of the chapter 1 is a spiritual. This spiritual as well as the description of the Easter Sunday of her concert, set me back to this day. I could feel the crisp air, I could hear the passion that goes with spirituals, and I found this to be a very creative way to begin her story. The beginning chapter gave me just enough information to want to know more. Who is she? Why would the president be brought up? Was she the 40s version of Beyonce? This interest led me to listen to some of her recordings before venturing further in the text. The book then goes back to her life and setting her up. She was from a close family, but she dealt with her struggles. She lost her father at an early age. She was born a singer, but with this brought forth challenges. She had a hard time advancing and learning in her niche. She was black and poor. With the church's support, they helped her afford schooling, but the church could not change the fact that her race was not accepted throughout the country. It seems so barbaric to me now. Wasn't schools as money hungry as they are now? Wouldn't they want her money enough to disregard her race? It seems as though they did not. She eventually went to high school and made her way into proper education so she could advance her talent. There was a photo that really touched me during this time in her life. Marian was with her high school graduating class and she was placed in the shadows with other students of color. Were they purposefully trying to hide the girls? It was sad. The story progresses further exploring her career, her tours in Europe, her challenges to find certain venues, and certain company in her career. The story does turn full circle bringing the reader back to that momentous, crisp and vivid morning that the first chapter portrayed. I liked that the author brought us back. We have a different appreciation of this day with all of the storyline. She eventually does get to sing in Constitution Hall and the story is concluded with her life after those two memorable events. The story is loaded with information and the author takes a really great approach at just feeding information. What can one learn through this? You would be so surprised. This story isn't just information, it is so much more. I was inspired and interested. She had Eleanor Roosevelt's attention as well as other high in command political figures. She did so much just by singing. These people are very interesting. After reading this text, I just sat back and thought about what she did for the civil rights movement. She definitely started it because she brought attention to the stupidity of segregation. I found it very fitting that the author included her connection to MLK Jr. It puzzles me, however. How do I not know about her? Is it that historians think that a singer had no influence on the civil rights? If this is so, that disturbs and saddens me. This book has beautiful photographs throughout. They are so perfectly placed as well. There was a photo of the concert that showed the magnitude of support and the author decided to show this with two pages and I found it to be very dynamic.I don't know exactly what age group I would really use this on. I would hope to use it as early as middle school, but I would want the students to draw the same conclusions on the power of what she represented. If they didn't understand all of the symbolism and deep meanings, I think they would still enjoy it on a strict biographical level. This was a great book.

[brennonj_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice That Challenged A Nation: Marian Anderson And The Struggle For Equal Rights by Russell Freedman is a compelling and inspirational non-fiction account of the life and career of Marian Anderson. In spite of the many racial difficulties Anderson faced, Freedman wrote this book to focus on the positive accomplishments and aspects of her career while mentioning the adversity in a straight forward manner. Similarly, the photographs chosen to illustrate this book were positive, reflecting family and high points of her success. Freedman is noted for writing more than forty other non-fiction works and this book received a Newberry Honor. This was a page turner that took me on a tour through the life of a world renowned singer throughout most of the 20th Century. Clearly organized chapter notes, selected bibliography, and index make reference and additional reading easily found. I appreciated the selected discography to allow a reader to hear Anderson’s voice if they are not familiar. I would use this book during secondary education when discussing civil rights and popular culture during the time.

[jmoreeda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book begins with a glimpse of the moment a distinguished African American vocalist performed from the steps on the Lincoln Monument because her race barred her from performing in Washington D.C.’s most appropriate auditorium, Constitution Hall. The author’s credentials list several awards for other biographies but no specific education or authority. However, this book had been named a Newberry Honor Book and The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award. These awards suggest accuracy and certain level of reliability. Specifically regarding generalizations and sensationalism, I believe the author kept true to the personality of his subject. He quoted her and commented on the Daughters of the American Revolution regarding their stance on banning “colored” performers and the civil rights movement itself. Freeman suggests that Anderson understands that everyone does not like the policies and a general statement on condemnation should be avoided. This book is more informational and retrospective than a call to action or radical statement.In the notes about the author, Freeman admits that he had never considered writing a biography of Anderson until he discovered her connection to Eleanor Roosevelt in researching a biography of this First Lady. The content of the book is specifically focused on Anderson’s life and the development of her career. Freeman does widen the scope of his explanations to include then current events or conditions related to civil rights but only to an extent that he may be able to adequately relay his subject’s experiences. Freeman’s intended audience is middle school. The length of the text and type of language suggest that the reader may have a moderate but limited attention span and has been exposed to some complex sentence structure but has not been immersed. The book does contain the expectation of prior or background knowledge of American History, the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, World War II, and the Civil Rights movement. A middle school student should have enough background knowledge in these areas to follow the storyline. However, the book does mention enough information to assist an uninformed reader through the text. The overall structure of the book is chronological with the exception of the first chapter which is a hook to catch the reader’s attention and foreshadow the climax of the book. Freeman uses clever chapter titles and quotes from within the chapter to entice the reader to continue. The Table of Contents in clear and makes note of the reference aids supplied by the author. The text itself does not contain citation documentation. However, the author included a section of chapter notes that specifically identifies the quote and reference. In the selected bibliography, I appreciate the annotation and explanation of the pertinent information found in each mentioned work.

[lalfonso_618548 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice That Changed a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman is the very moving story of a woman’s struggle and sacrifice to live her dream during a time when women and people of color had virtually no rights. Marian Anderson was born with the gift of song. From a young age, people recognized her talent. The best part of her school day was either singing or listening to the music as it drifted through the wall from the music room. Of course, Marian sang in her church choir, which is where her choir director, Alexander Robinson, first recognized her talent. From that point on her church and community not only became fans and staunch supporters of her talent, they became financial backers, in a sense, and helped her to reach her dream of becoming a professional singer. They raised money to help pay for school, professional coaches, and costumes. Her success was as much a tribute to her community supporters as it was to her hard work and dedication. With their help, she became one of the most important classical singers of the 20th century despite the many obstacles that blocked her path. One pivotal moment in her career was when her “team” tried to find a venue big enough to hold a concert in Washington D.C. The team tried to use Constitution Hall but the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow the use of Constitution Hall because of the color of her skin. Her team had to think fast and decided to hold the outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday in 1939. Also noted was her unique relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt which led to the decision to hold the Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Freedman credited this relationship and his curiosity for sparking the flame that started this book, which incidentally was awarded a Newbery Honor.Freedman is an award-winning writer of over “40 nonfiction book for young people,” which make him a high credible author. He won the Newbery Metal for Lincoln: A Photobiography, and two Newbery Honors for The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane and Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery. In addition, he won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his body of work, and finally, a Newbery Honor for The Voice That Changed a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. He is known for writing outstanding biographies.I found the cover to be very inviting. It is very simply displayed in shades of umber showing a very simple photo of Marian Anderson performing in front of a bank of microphones on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. She is standing very simply in a fur coat while her accompanist, plays a baby grand piano behind her. Also on the front cover is the Newbery Honor award for which Mr. Freedman earned for The Voice That Changed a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. The cover and the title together suggest that the reader will be engaging in a story about a singer who influenced social change. With the Lincoln Memorial in the background one would assume that the change will have something to do with civil rights as does the inclusion of the words “Struggle for Equal Rights” which are included in the title. I didn’t find that the end pages added to the story.The Table of Contents is arranged at the beginning of the book. It includes a very simple description of the contents of each chapter. With titles such as “Twenty-five Cents a Song,” they are intriguing enough to capture the interest of the reader. Additionally, the Table of Contents also lets the reader know that more information will forthcoming later in the book such as Chapter Notes, Selected Bibliography, Selected Discography, Acknowledgements and Picture Credits, and an Index. The chapter notes also lend to the author’s credibility. He includes a chapter by chapter account of the quotations which were used for The Voice That Changed a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. In addition, he includes a guide for understanding the abbreviations used in the book. The Index includes a note letting the reader know that page numbers in bold type refer to illustrations. Also aiding the reader is additional information in parenthesis such as Anderson, Alyse (sister). If the reader wants to read more about Marian’s sister, the reader doesn’t need to flip through pages, he/she need only use the index. The author has written the book using simple, uncomplicated language and sentences. Both are perfect for his audience of young people from grades five to twelve. Freedman organized the chapter chronologically, except for Chapter One. Chapter One foreshadows a pivotal point in her career in which her vocation and her activism meet. Throughout the book she is portrayed as a gentle unassuming advocate. She simply wanted to sing, eventually she realized that her voice could be used for more and may be used to make a difference in calling attention to the injustice of segregation. In addition, Freedman begins each chapter with a quote, and crammed each chapter chock full of photographs which helps the reader to visualize the major players in the story as well as to sets the mood of the time in which Ms. Anderson lived. Together they helped set the tone of the story. Visually the book is extremely appealing, and added plus is that it reads as a narrative.

[abrinkman_10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review – The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights I would find it hard to believe that anyone reading about Marian Anderson could possibly dislike her. Marian Anderson was a gentlewoman- graceful, modest, and eloquent, as well as being one heck of a singer. Russell Freedman has written a praiseworthy account of a singer who found herself immersed in the civil rights movement from the 1930s and her monumental concert at Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, 1939 to her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall on Easter Sunday, 1965.The book begins with an introduction to her most famous concert, one that would forever change Lincoln Memorial into a site for the fight for humanitarian rights and freedom of speech. On Easter Sunday, 1939 Marian Anderson changed America for the better by offering her voice as a symbol of equality. But, like most famous people, she was not born famous. In south Philadelphia she group up with her mother and two sisters and their extended family. Freedman gives an eloquent account of her rise to stardom through an early career that was scarred by racism, not being allowed to study at Music Conservatories that allowed Whites only, as well as uplifted by the people who fought for her and her right to sing. From the beginning of her career to the end, she had solid supporters from her original choir at Union Baptist Church to Howard Ickes, the Interior Secretary, and Eleanor Roosevelt. That did not mean it did not take a great deal of personal courage and remarkable talent to go from a south Philadelphia choir singer to one of the most renowned female soloist in the world. Learning her journey was well worth the time it took to read. Not that it did take a great deal of time. Freedman has, like a chef with a balsamic and port reduction, condensed the story of her life and her role in the civil rights movement to 91 pages broken up into eight chapters. To be able to do this only the most important information about her career could be told, leaving some readers wishing their was a little more about her personal life. Forty years of marriage was described in what added up to maybe a paragraph. But her personal life wasn’t the point, her voice was, ‘the voice that challenged a nation,’ was the herald and moral of this work. I was sad not to know Marian Anderson better, but I was intrigued by the idea that a voice could make people color blind and take value in the only thing of importance, that they were listening to an artist. The cover is certainly inviting and intriguing as it shows Marian Anderson standing at a podium of microphones with Abraham Lincoln a shadow over her right shoulder. The photograph captures both the artist and the amazing impact she had on proving the need for equal rights because “all men are created equal.” The book has a very powerful message. But even the most powerful message needs back up. The reader can tell how much effort Freedman put into this book. The photographs are a biography unto themselves. Before I started reading, I looked at every single picture in the book and I felt like I had already been introduced to Marian Anderson. As we follow the story, the selection of photos becomes essential to our picture of Marian Anderson. Freedman also included an impressive amount of evidence of his research in his access features. There aren’t any of the fancy access features we see in many modern non fiction texts, such as sidebars, although he does give us a chapter notes with a list of abbreviations used in the book and a quotes list by chapter with citations, a selected bibliography, a selected discography (needed if the reader would like to further their education of Marian Anderson by listening to her), picture credits and index. Out of all these access features, the one I found most interesting was the selected bibliography. It is not an alphabetical list like you would expect. Instead, it is a conversational essay that tells the reader what books, periodicals, etc were used and why. I found myself reading it word for word while I may have only skimmed a traditional bibliography. The Voice that Challenged a Nation is not a difficult read and I think could easily be used in the classroom when learning about the civil rights movement, most especially how it was a movement of peace by strong people who stood up (or just kept on singing) for what they believed and they did it against what others thought impossible odds. The suggested grade levels for this book are grades 5-9. The book could be used as late as 11th or 12th for students writing papers about the civil rights movement. I think that students in the classroom are too often given just the generalized truth, even as late as high school; they learn about the big leaders, people that have modern streets named after them. It is essential for their education to be introduced to a variety of people and ideas in any movement. I leave you with one suggestion. While Freedman’s descriptions of people’s reaction to Marian Anderson are very well said and to hear people such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Arturo Toscanini praise her makes you believe in her talent, I did not feel as if I heard Marian’s voice in the book as much as I would have liked. She was, as she herself admitted, not a speaker and yet it is mostly her spoken words that we read. It is one of the hardest things to do, I think, to keep the voice of the person you are writing about in the text without overshadowing that person with description and quotes, and even harder when that person is a singer. My suggestion? Go on youtube and upload a video of Anderson singing so that you can listen to ‘the voice’ while you read Freedman’s interpretation and description of Easter Sunday, 1939 and you will hear why the world listened and changed.

[kaamstutz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Russell Freedman’s “The Voice the Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Right” features the life narrative of Marian Anderson, a world famous opera singer who graced the stages of Europe’s most renowned theatres and halls yet was barred from performing at Washington D.C.’s Constitution Hall because of her skin color. Growing up in poverty, Anderson and her family relied on the generosity of her community to get her through high school and to send her to professional singing lessons. When her voice became a local legend, she set out to Europe to hone her craft and tour. She became the toast of Europe’s music community, yet she faced hatred and bigotry in her own country. Touring in the American South was particularly frustrating for Marian, but her handlers felt that her biggest challenge was yet to come. When the owners of Constitution Hall, the D.A.R., refused to open its doors to Marian, her team decided a free concert in the National Mall in the shadow of Lincoln’s Memorial would stand as a symbol of her talent and the racial bigotry that still divided the nation. Marian was a reluctant participant in the Civil Rights movement, but her free concert became a sensation in the news making her a symbol of the injustice of racial segregation. Years later, she was eventually welcomed to perform at Constitution Hall, and she continued to break racial barriers in the music world. Her undeniable talent and ability to break racial divides made her a living legend decades before the Civil Rights movement got underway in the South. Russell Freedman’s biography does not say much about his academic qualifications for writing this book, however his prolific career and numerous honors make it apparent that he is more than qualified to author a tremendous work of nonfiction. In his biography, he states that he was made aware of Anderson’s talent and presence in the Civil Rights movement through her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt and her monumental Lincoln Memorial Concert. He was inspired by her bravery, and he did an excellent job researching her life to compile this book. His accuracy in the narrative is unquestionable. The annotated selected bibliography is particularly well down because it includes numerous sources and reasonings behind their worth and inclusion. He also frequently used Marian’s own words in the text and the words of those around her. Newspaper articles are cited along with critiques of her performances. Freedman stuck to the facts and there were no examples of sensationalism, generalizations, or stereotyping in his work. The scope of the work is very general since it features the life and times of Marian Anderson. But I would argue that the focus of Freedman’s work is multifaceted. He does indeed focus on Marian’s life, but good portions of the text include deep analysis of those around her. Eleanor Roosevelt is a major person of interest in this book and other figures close to Marian like her husband Orpheus and her accompanists and managers play a hefty role in the narrative. Aspects of her time like segregation and the role and history of the D.A.R. are defined. This multifaceted focus adds to the text’s depth making this work a complex and involving read.Freedman’s writing style is very straightforward, and the language used is appropriate for a fifth grade and up audience. I did not find myself needing to look up words in the dictionary, which I guess explains the text’s lack of a glossary. But Freedman does a great job of setting up the society in which Marian lived, and I do not think that readers would need to have an innate understanding about this era’s beliefs on racial equality and social norms before opening the book. His tone is positive and supportive of Marian’s career and subtle steps towards racial equality, but I do not believe his voice is as apparent as other authors we have read. He lets Marian and those around her take the forefront in the text, and Freedman’s main role in the text is to connect the narrative between the quotes. The organization of the text is generally chronological beginning with Marian’s childhood and concluding with her death in 1993. But the book is also organized according to topics. The first chapter sets the stage of one Marian’s most important performances. Freedman engages the reader by meticulously describing Marian’s Lincoln Memorial concert. Freedman’s description of the packed crowds, brisk winds, and overcast skies give color to the black and white pictures accompanying the text, but the distinct tension of what this performance could do and Marian’s apparent nerves add to the story’s narrative style. Readers are immediately hooked. Other chapters focus on Marian’s growing international popularity, the politics of race in performance halls, the D.A.R., and Mrs. Roosevelt’s personal fights for equality adding complexity to the book’s organization. The book has a table of contents, which divides the work into eight chapters. Each chapter is titled and gives the reader a hint as to what the upcoming chapter will entail. The first chapter title lets you know that this chapter will just be about this one day, while the last chapter entitled “What I Had Was Singing” is Freedman’s conclusion of the text. Each chapter also features one of Marian’s quotes that relate to the chapter’s subject. An index appears at the end, and Freedman graciously includes little notes to let the reader know what some of the aspects are such describing Benjamin Anderson as Marian’s grandfather and The General Motors Hour as a radio show. There are also chapter notes that cite the page numbers of Freedman’s many quotes, and there is a wonderful selected discography, which is a sampling of some recent Marian Anderson releases. Images line almost every page in the narrative and add a wonderful visual element to the book. Images of important people in the text along with programs, newspaper clippings, and images of racial segregation help to define the world in which Marian lived, and the rather intriguing image of a congregation of African American Jews (Marian’s own grandfather was a convert) shows the complexity of African American communities throughout America. I particularly enjoyed the full-page placement of Marian’s Lincoln Memorial concert and Freedman’s writing leading up to that moment. Readers literally get to see what Marian saw on that important day, which is a wonderful way to transport readers into the narrative. The cover image is also moving because it features Marian singing passionately in the shadow of Lincoln. As a future secondary social studies teacher, I would use this text when discussing figures in the Civil Rights movement and racial segregation. Marian was making waves decades before the more prominent figures of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but given her timid nature and passion for music, she plays a far smaller role in the movement. She was not eager to stir up the controversy surrounding her life, but she stood for equality in her relentless perseverance and love of the arts. She broke barriers in her field, and is a hero to the Civil Rights movement.

[kelliemaurin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The biography written about Marian Anderson, A Voice That Challenged a Nation, by Russell Freedman is an excellent book. Upon looking at the title and cover I was aware that this would be a book about a woman making a difference for civil rights. The black and white photograph of an African American woman standing at a microphone in front of the Lincoln Memorial led me to that conclusion; however, I did not know that Marian Anderson was a singer. I thought that she possibly spoke out for civil rights. Immediately, by looking at the table of contents and chapter titles, I learned that she was, in fact, a singer. Freedman starts the book with a monumental event in Anderson's life, where she gave a free concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. after being denied the opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall because she was an African American. Although this is briefly describe in chapter one, I was left with many questions as to how Anderson got to this point. How did she become such a well-known African American singer during this time? How was she allowed to sing at the Lincoln Memorial but not at Constitution Hall? Freedman answers these questions and more in the following chapters of the book, and I particularly loved the last sentence of the first chapter, "Then she closed her eyes, lifted her head, clasped her hands before her, and began to sing." This transition left me wanting to know more, and actually gave me chills for the first of many times during this read.Chapter two begins with Anderson describing Marian's love for singing in elementary school and takes us through her childhood life, while explaining the racial discrimination against African Americans in Philadelphia in the early 1900s. I thought this was a good way to build a bit of background knowledge for young readers and to help readers visualize the setting and time of the book. The chapter ends with Marian's high school graduation, her church coming together to pay for her singing lessons, and more discrimination she faced in the United States while traveling to sing and also being denied the chance to enroll in a music school. The following chapters depict Marian's success in Europe and how she chose a white accompanist. I loved these chapters because I was excited to read her accomplishments and see how her skin color played no part in her career in Europe. Freedman did a good job of describing this, and it lead me to further research racial discrimination in Europe in the 1900s, which in my opinion is the best thing an author can do. After Anderson makes her mark in Europe, it's time for her to accomplish the same successes in her own country.The final four chapters describe Anderson's struggles in the United States as an African American singer. The biggest struggle was when she was denied the right to sing at Constitution Hall. This outraged Anderson's fans and supporters, more than I think it upset her. I found it interesting that Marian Anderson was a singer; not a civil rights activist. She didn't want to cause trouble and often kept quiet during controversial times. It wasn't until the freedom concert and thereafter that she began advocating for equal rights more publicly. One of her biggest supporters was Eleanor Roosevelt, and Freedman does a great job of demonstrating the relationship that Anderson and First Lady Roosevelt shared. The solution to Anderson not being able to sing at Constitution Hall was to give a free concert at the Lincoln Memorial to "send a powerful message of defiance against the injustice of bigotry and racial discrimination." Freedman describes the day of the concert using detailed wording, truly enabling the readers to feel as though they are there. Throughout the book, the ideas are clearly organized and events follow logical order. I think the language is a little complex for younger-age middle school children, but Freedman does a good job of giving vivid examples to help the reader understand and visualize. Freedman's language use is excellent using both vivid and precise wording. He certainly uses emotion to draw the readers in, leave them hanging, and left asking questions like I described above. The chapters transition well and I especially liked the quotes he used with each chapter title. Freedman is somewhat conversational in his book, writing about Anderson as if he were talking to friends about how interesting her life was. The book ended nicely, including facts about Anderson's late-in-life awards and honors. Freedman's chapter notes are clear and I especially appreciated his explanation of abbreviations he used and the details of his bibliography. As a teacher, that's a nice bonus feature to use in teaching citation. His index a greatly detailed and the photographs used throughout the book were a great addition. The two page spread of the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial was impactful. I thought this was an excellent book and I enjoyed learning about Marian Anderson very much.

[katina_deberry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Marian Anderson achieved musical success around the world. The music that she sang crossed racial and social barriers. Marian was also well received in the United States; however, she still faced racial discrimination. The Voice that Challenged a Nation is a well-written story that documents Marian’s life and the challenges that she faced during her career. The most notable of these challenges was in 1939 when the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Marian to perform a concert at Constitution Hall. To avoid mixed seating, DAR instituted a “white artists only” policy. Backed by many notable supporters, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian performed her concert at the Lincoln Memorial. This performance helped to end racial discrimination in the arts. The cover of the book is inviting. Although the color of the book is not very eye catching, the font is. I was immediately drawn to the word “voice”. After reading the rest of the title, I wanted to know more about Marian Anderson. The picture on the front is small in contrast with the title, and it could easily be overlooked. The table of contents is organized by single, narrative topics. Some of the chapter titles aid the reader in locating content such as chapter one, Easter, Sunday April 9, 1939 and chapter five, Banned by the DAR. The titles for the other chapters are quotes from within the chapters; however, they wouldn’t be helpful in assisting a reader in finding specific information. The book does not contain a glossary or a pronunciation guide. The language used in the book is clear, and specialized vocabulary is not used. The bibliography does include a list of the sources that readers can use to obtain additional information about Marian Anderson. In the bibliography, the author mentions a few books that were very significant to him – My Lord, What a Morning and Marian Anderson: A Singer’s Journey. Freedman does not clearly state the extent to which these books were used in his research; however, the chapter notes include more information regarding the sources that were used in the book. On the first page of the notes, there is a key that explains the abbreviations that are used to identify the sources. This was very helpful, but I often found myself flipping back to the legend because I couldn’t remember the abbreviations. The notes are organized by chapter and include the page number. I also found it to be very useful that the author listed the page number where the quote can be found in the source material. The illustrations in the book definitely add value to the story. The pictures are of a high quality, and the author included captions for each one. There is a picture for almost every person that is mentioned in this book. The two page picture from the Lincoln Memorial was magnificent. It really helped me to understand the enormity of that event. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the programs from Marian’s performances. They helped to solidify her extraordinary musical repertoire.This book is more narrative than expository. Some explanations are given, but the main goal of the book is to tell the story of Marian Anderson’s life and career and how she influenced our country. I would describe the tone as being respectful. The author clearly admires Marian Anderson and her accomplishments. I enjoyed reading this book because it sheds light on a nontraditional way in which the struggle for civil rights was fought. I would use this book in my English class as an example of a narrative biography or in a unit on music or Civil Rights. This book could also be used in a Social Studies class.

[jcholmes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book, The Voice that Challenged a Nation- Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights, was about a singer and her road to breaking racial boundaries in music and the arts. In chapter one, Marion Anderson is introduced to the reader through a recount of her historic Lincoln Memorial Concert on Easter Day in 1939. Chapter by chapter, the author tells Marian Anderson’s story from beginning to end. The author explains the struggles and barriers she faced as a black musician during segregation in The United States. The last chapter is an overall summary of the singer’s life. Marian Anderson was a very talented woman who unknowingly used her music to tear down many racial barriers in America. I thought the book was well written, valid, and well organized. The story was told in chronological order with author narration. The author gives the reader a hook in the introduction chapter and then proceeds to start Marian’s story for early childhood until death. Finishing, the author recaps Marian’s story to reinforce it. The cover of the book leads the reader to believe the story is about a woman singing and challenging segregation in America. The author validates the book with chapter notes, uses primary and secondary sources for his research, and explains why he used the sources for the book. Also, the book has a bibliography, discography, picture credits, and an index. All of these extra additions to the book enhanced its creditability. The pictures were a great addition to the text. I thought they were placed perfectly throughout the story. The pictures gave the book an extra meaning and helped bring her story to life.This book would not be suitable for a high school science class. However, it would be a great read for a social studies or chorus class. It could be used in a social studies class for the racial and historical content. It could be used in a chorus class for music content. After reading this book, I watched a video on the internet of Marian Anderson’s Easter Day performance at Lincoln Center. She had an amazing, powerful, and overwhelming voice!

[ccoakley_8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Russell Freedman’s The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights is a beautifully written and moving biography about one of the United States’ most renowned singers, who was significant not only because her voice was “one in one thousand,” but also for her contributions to the civil rights movement. Russell Freedman is an acclaimed writer of many nonfiction books for young readers, and has won numerous awards, including a Newbery Medal Book, for The Voice that Challenged a Nation, as well as two Newbery Honor Books. This book is based completely on fact, yet is written in a way so the reader feels as though he or she is reading the story of a heroine. Freedman provides source notation on all of the quoted material for each chapter, as well as a thorough bibliography, detailing the books and sources that were especially helpful for his research. It is clear that Freedman spent a great deal of time on his research of Marian Anderson, which is reflected in his writing. The reader not only gets a whole picture of what Marian was like as a person and a singer, but also the influence that she had politically, especially in regards to the civil rights movement. Freedman does not sensationalize or stereotype; rather, he tells Marian’s triumphs and struggles true to the fact of the time, as magnificent or horrific as the situation may have been. This book is interesting in that it not only tells the story of Marian’s entire life – her childhood in Philadelphia, following her career traveling through the United States and eventually touring Europe, but it also demonstrates Marian as the quiet yet influential civil rights representative that she was. The book follows the struggles she encountered with her singing, and also the discrimination she faced as an African American living in a very segregated United States, pre-1960. Stylistically, this work of nonfiction is magnificent. Freedman writes in a way that completely captivates the reader; he makes the reader truly feel for Marian, and the reader feels as though they are struggling and triumphing along with her. The author seamlessly incorporates Marian’s own words and quotes that others said about her into his own text. There are no literary breaks between Freedman’s own writing about Marian and the sources that he used. Freedman’s tone is both quiet and yet triumphant, much like Marian herself. He writes in a way that humbles and celebrates Marian at the same time. He helps the reader to see what a brilliant and gracious person she really was. She did not revel in the attention she received; she simply wanted to share her voice with everyone around her. The book is written in clear language, and is appropriate for grades 6 through 12; it does not require extensive background knowledge, but it would be helpful for the reader to have some knowledge of the racial landscape of the United States before the civil rights movement. It is important for the reader to know the grand strides that Marian Anderson was making as an African American woman at this time. The Voice that Challenged a Nation is written chronologically following Marian’s early life and subsequent career as a concert vocalist, and also in the format of a story narrative; Freedman is clearly telling the story of Marian’s life as an artist and also as a civil rights activist. The chapter headings are informational, but also meant to grasp the reader’s attention. Titles such as “Marian Fever” and “Breaking Barriers” really capture the reader’s interest and engage him or her in what the next chapter will be about. Before Freedman discusses Marian’s early life, he uses chapter one to intrigue the reader about a momentous moment in Marian’s later life: singing at the Lincoln Memorial. This serves to capture the reader’s attention at the very beginning of the book. The subsequent chapters follow Marian’s life in a chronological order. Freedman includes a table of contents at the beginning of the book, outlining chapter headings and page numbers. At the conclusion of the book the author includes extensive chapter notes, a selected bibliography, a selected discography for a reader that may want to listen to some of Marian’s music (I did! The first thing I did after finishing the book was YouTube a number of Marian’s songs), as well as an Index covering places, events, important terms and significant people. One of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed most as a reader were the ample photographs that Freedman included throughout the entire book. Each chapter contained photographs of Marian and certain events throughout her life, such as her performances at concerts or her tour throughout Europe. It was both enjoyable and helpful to put “faces to names” throughout the reading process. It helped Marian’s singing and her struggles come to life. One especially moving picture, taking up two pages of the book (66 and 67), shows Marian’s perspective singing outward from the Lincoln Memorial when 75,000 people came to hear her voice. The front and back covers of the book both include pictures of Marian: the front cover, at her concert at the Lincoln Memorial, and the back cover including a picture of Marian singing. The typeface on the cover is large and clear; the focus word is “voice,” which ultimately enabled Marian to do everything that she did. The front cover also includes the Newbery Honor Book medal, clearly accrediting the book as a great work of nonfiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that it would be a fantastic addition to a history class studying the civil rights movement. It demonstrates how one individual is able to overcome adversity and break barriers in a humble and beautiful way. Through the description of Marian’s experiences a young reader can more fully grasp the horrors of discrimination at the time. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the civil rights movement or music in general.

[penny1johnsonward · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Voice That Challenged A Nation: Marian Anderson And The Struggle For Equal Rights written by Russell Freeman is a nonfictional narrative on the singing career of Marian Anderson. This book opens with brief overview of Anderson’s historical Easter Sunday concert in 1939 and continues with eight chapters in chorological order. Beginning with Anderson’s love for singing as a child in chapter one and ending with her death in 1993 and the legacy she left behind in chapters seven and eight. Freeman introduces each chapter with a direct quote from Anderson and a catchy descriptive title like: “Marian Fever” and “Twenty-five Cents a Song.” Freeman also draws the reader into his book by using captivating language and hunting descriptions. For example, the description he gives of the woman in the crowd on page 68. His vivid description of this “single figure” warmed my heart and caused me to reflect on what Anderson’s concert meant to people involved in the fight for civil rights. Although this book is not appropriate for my kindergarten class I highly recommend it for middle school and high school students.

[socrnut07 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the Russell Freedman book "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights." The book is a great account of a talented African-American individual making a difference in the Civil Rights movement for all races and ethnicities. Russell Freedman is a very qualified author that is well known for his great literary works. He has written over forty books covering a wide range of historical individuals. He does extensive research in order to write the most accurate details of that historical individual. Based on the bibliography in the back of the book, Freedman did extensive research on Marian Anderson. He cited many works such as Marian's autobiography and other biographies, Walter White's accounts of Anderson, and many of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt's newspaper columns detailing the life and influence of Marian Anderson's impact on the civil rights movement. The cover has the title of the book in large, easy-to-read text. The word "voice" is in the largest print. I believe that Freedman wanted to make sure that the reader understood that Anderson's voice was the main driving force to her success professionally and progressively for civil rights. The table of contents is a very basic but informative presentation. Each chapter title gives the reader a small glimpse into what will be covered in that chapter. The index is very extensive and organized. There is a note explaining that bold numbers signify illustrations throughout the book. In regards to the style, the clarity of the book's message is expressed by the author in a very clear and precise manner. The life of Marian Anderson as a talented singer who was catapulted into the civil rights movement should be heard by all students. Anderson continued to sing and fight for civil rights until her death at the age of ninety-six. She has been decorated by many honorary degrees and several awards. Her perfomance at the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939 was a defining moment in her career that helped to break the "only white artist" policy at the renowned Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. Marian Anderson's legacy is that of a great and motivational individual.

[skane86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Before reading this work, I had absolutely no exposure to Marian Anderson's history or her music. Freedman carries her reader through the life of this incredible singer, and by the end of the book I felt absolutely compelled to listen to Marian Anderson's music , and read more books about her. Freedman carries his reader through the life, triumphs, and eventual death of Marian Anderson, and conveys with eloquence the impact that this amazing woman had on the civil rights movement, as well as the music industry. I would use this text to enhance a high school curriculum that focuses on the civil rights movement, and would absolutely suggest anyone reading it for pleasure as well.

[kris0812 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book provides a very detailed biography of Marian Anderson, her life, and the civil rights movement. Though it was well written and well documented with primary source pictures, artifacts, and quotes, I think this book may be a bit much for my fourth grade students. When studying the civil rights period, I may choose to read specific sections of the books and show many of the pictures and artifacts, but I would not read the book cover to cover with my class. When Marian Sings is a much better option for my students at this time, though it could be an added activity to compare and contrast both works if students did want to read the entire book.

[amartin2787 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS is an interesting read for fifth to eighth grade students. This biography introduces readers to Marian Anderson and her role in the fight for equal rights in American history. This well written book includes many resources for students to explore more information. The author also includes lots of photographs that help the reader really get into the time. This book would be good to use in a social studies class during a unit on civil rights. This book would also work in a music class. A music teacher could show the class the struggles musicians go through to get their music heard.