Rosenberg Mention of the Day: Excerpted from her biography "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy," Anne Sebba's new essay for Lit Hub explores the influence of the Rosenberg trial, the Red Scare era and Ethel herself on American fiction, from Plath's "The Bell Jar" to Kushner's "Angels in America" (and more).
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: Wow! Anne Sebba (Ethel Rosenberg's biographer) published in TIME today: "I fervently believe 2021 is a potent time to look again at Ethel as a woman in her own right, not just one half of the Rosenbergs. . .a mother who bravely chose to die rather than betray anyone, and in so doing bequeathed her sons a legacy of which they could be proud."
Read "There's More to the Ethel Rosenberg Story" by Anne Sebba, here: https://time.com/6072014/ethel-rosenberg-revisited/
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: "The reason why I believe Ethel’s story is as important today as ever is to realize what can happen when fear, a forceful and blunt weapon in the hands of authority, turns to hysteria and justice is willfully ignored." -Anne Sebba, author of "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" (available now)
Read an excerpt from Sebba's new biography here: https://crimereads.com/ethel-rosenberg/
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: We're pleased to announce that Anne Sebba's new biography "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" is available today! It is a powerful and intimate look into Ethel's life which Robert Meeropol (RFC Founder & her younger son) describes this way, "we finally have a book that does my mother’s life justice."
Artists as Activists Mention of the Day: In his fascinating review of Aaron Leonard's new book, The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, the Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist Party, USA—1939–1956, Mat Callahan explores the targeting of political organizers (including Ethel & Julius Rosenberg) and artists (including Billie Holiday & her performance of "Strange Fruit") and the contradiction inherent in this repression of activist artists.
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: 103 years ago today (on May 12, 1918) Julius Rosenberg was born in New York City. Julius & Ethel, the inspiration of the RFC, believed that others would carry on after them in the fight for justice. We hope Julius would approve of the incredible community of activists supported by the RFC in his and Ethel’s memory. Happy birthday, Julius; we remember you always.
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: This Mothers' Day we're delighted to share this beautiful look into Ethel Rosenberg's early life and love of music 💕 Take a walk through a collection of her favorite songs, cited from letters she'd exchanged with her husband Julius while they both were in prison. Thanks to Ed Morris for sharing this piece with us in his newsletter Ed(it's).
Read the full article here: https://akillingfroth.substack.com/p/an-ethel-rosenberg-songbook
#RosenbergMOTD
Sharing this excellent piece about the history of the iconic protest song "Strange Fruit" for today's joint Strange Fruit & Rosenberg Mention of the Day: From the article, "In the 21st century, 'Strange Fruit' has lived on, sampled in the 2000 song 'What’s Really Going On,' in which the singer Dwayne Wiggins recounts an episode of racial profiling at the hands of the police in Oakland, Calif.
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: #OnThisDay 70 years ago on April 5, 1951, Ethel & Julius Rosenberg were sentenced to death by Judge Irving Kaufman after being convicted of "conspiracy to commit espionage." In his infamous speech justifying the death sentence, Judge Kaufman stated that he considered their "crime worse than murder." He went on to blame them for the Korean War and the resultant lives lost in that conflict, and to accuse them of loving their cause more than their children.
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: On this day, March 29, 1951, after a deeply tainted, politically-motivated trial lasting three weeks, Julius & Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage in federal court in New York City.