Synopses & Reviews
American Rebels is an anthology of specially commissioned essays by leading American writers that attempt to reconcile authentic patriotism with original artistic creation, unpopular opinion, and real moral principles that don't change with the winds. It includes rebels in politics, education, journalism, religion, literature, film, sports, music, law, popular culture, and social struggle. These are real rebels against conformity, commercialism, racism, oligarchy, the bogus conventional wisdom, stacked decks, and sacred cows. The Americans celebrated don't fit under any one ideology or party. They are too free-spirited to be categorized, belonging to a continuum of conviction and creation in our tangled national history. Some, like Walt Whitman, Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando, and Frank Sinatra, are famous. Others are less well known but have earned a broad appreciation; among them are Sam Fuller, Paul O'Dwyer, and Mike Harrington. Still others like Edward Abbey, Benjamin Mays, and Bill Hicks are almost cult figuresrevered by a small, intense following. Others have faded from memory, like Margaret Sanger and Clarence Darrow, and deserve a new shaft of sunlight. This groundbreaking collection includes original essays by Pete Hamill, Stanley Crouch, Budd Schulberg, Danny Goldberg, J. Hoberman, Patricia Bosworth, Tom Hayden, Steve Earle, and others.
Synopsis
Contributors for American RebelsBudd Schulberg on Joe LouisPete Hamill on Norman MailerScott Sherman on Curtis MayfieldStanley Crouch on John ColtraneCharles Bowden on H. T. OdumDan Wakefield on Norman EddyDanny Goldberg on Clarence DarrowEllen Chesler on Margaret SangerGene Santoro on Bob DylanGeoffrey Cowan on Cliff and Virginia DurrGerri Hirschy on Aretha FranklinJim Hoberman on Sam FullerJack Newfield on Murray KemptonJim Callaghan on Peter O'DwyerJoe Conason on Paul WellstoneJudy Coburn on Fannie Lou HamerLucius Shephard on Miles DavisMark Jacobson on Hank WilliamsMaurice Isserman on Michael HarringtonMickey Knox on John GarfieldNat Hentoff on William O'DouglasNelson Lichenstein on Walter ReutherNicholas Pileggi on Mario PuzoPatricia Bosworth on Bella AbzugPaul Edelman on Cesar ChavezRay Robinson on Will RogersRichard Gambino on Walt WhitmanRoberta Gratz on Jane JacobsRoger Wilkins on Benjamin MaysSidney Zion on Frank SinatraSteve Earle on Woody GuthrieStuart Klawans on Frederick WisemanTerry Bissen on Edward AbbeyTerry Golway on Father Mychal Judge Tom Gogola on Bill HicksTom Hayden on Robert Moses Victor Navasky on I. F. StoneWallace Matthews on Curt FloodWayne and Chris Barrett on Dorothy Day