Description
Author / Editor: Edited by Irwin Silber
Introduction: Paul Robeson
Illustrations: Jim Lee
Publisher: People’s Artists
Place of Publication: New York
Copyright: 1955
Format: Paperback
Edition: First paperback edition
Language: English
Description:
Lift Every Voice! is a landmark mid-20th-century American protest and labor songbook, issued during the height of the Cold War and McCarthy era. Edited by Irwin Silber—one of the most influential figures in American folk music scholarship—and introduced by Paul Robeson, the book gathers songs rooted in labor movements, civil rights struggles, anti-fascist resistance, and international solidarity.
Robeson’s foreword is especially significant: at the time of publication, he was blacklisted, had his passport revoked, and was under constant federal surveillance. His presence alone marks this book as a politically charged and historically courageous publication. The illustrations by Jim Lee reinforce the populist, internationalist ethos of the People’s Artists movement.
Unlike later commercial folk anthologies, this volume emerged directly from activist networks and grassroots publishing rather than academic or mainstream presses. Copies in strong condition are increasingly scarce, particularly those that have survived intact through decades of political suppression and disuse.
Condition:
Near Fine. Clean, solid paperback with strong spine. A small reinforcement at the inside front cover has been professionally stabilized with archival document repair tape. Pages are clean and unmarked. Overall a well-preserved copy with minimal handling wear.
Notes:
Protected in an archival sleeve. An uncommon and historically resonant example of American labor and civil-rights publishing from the 1950s.
