Publisher's Synopsis
From Oprah Winfrey to Angelina Jolie, George Clooney to Leonardo DiCaprio, Americans have come to expect that Hollywood celebrities will be outspoken advocates for social and political causes. However, that wasn't always the case. As Emilie Raymond shows, during the civil rights movement the 'Stars for Freedom', a handful of celebrities both black and white, risked their careers by crusading for racial equality, and forged the role of celebrity in American political culture. Focusing on the 'Leading Six' trailblazers - Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dick Gregory, and Sidney Poitier.
