Catalog

Record Details

Catalog Search



The wind at my back : resilience, grace, and other gifts from my mentor, Raven Wilkinson / Misty Copeland, with Susan Fales-Hill.

Summary:
"Misty Copeland made history as the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Her talent, passion, and perseverance enabled her to make strides no one had accomplished before. But as she will tell you, achievement never happens in a void. Behind her, supporting her rise was her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, who had been virtually alone in her quest to breach the all-white ballet world when she fought to be taken seriously as a black ballerina in the 1950s and 60s. A trailblazer in the world of ballet decades before Misty's time, Raven faced overt and casual racism, hostile crowds, and death threats for having the audacity to dance ballet. The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other--and the dance world--forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with Raven, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands. A beautiful and wise memoir of intergenerational friendship and the impressive journeys of two remarkable women, The Wind at My Back captures the importance of mentorship, of shared history, and of respecting the past to ensure a stronger future"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781538753859
  • ISBN: 1538753855
  • Physical Description: 225 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
  • Edition: First edition.
  • Publisher: New York : Grand Central Publishing, 2022.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-219) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
It all began tonight -- A distant mirror -- Two women at the crossroads -- Never give up -- Taking flight -- Dreams deferred -- Black swans rock -- Blood, sweat, and swan queens -- Live by the swan, die by the swan -- Dreams realized -- The bells toll -- Taking Raven's breath away -- Transition.
Subject: Copeland, Misty.
Wilkinson, Raven.
African American ballerinas > Biography.
African American ballerinas > Social conditions.
Ballerinas > Biography.
Ballet dancers > United States > Biography.
Ballet > United States > History > 20th century.
Mentoring in the arts > United States.
Racism > United States > History > 20th century.

Available copies

  • 12 of 12 copies available at SPARK Libraries.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 12 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Albright Memorial Library 920 COPELAN (Text) 50686016244274 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library 792.802 COP (Text) 37268003154598 AHMFL Adult Non-Fiction Available -
Cambria County Library 792.802 C782w (Text) 85131001853242 CACM Non-Fiction Available -
Dillsburg Area Public Library Adults Copeland Biography (Text) 34001001428877 Adult Area Available -
Indian Valley Public Library Biography Copeland (Text) 39427103708806 Nonfiction Room: Adult Biography Available -
Spring Township Library COP (Text) 33249024590550 Biography Available -
West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library COP (Text) 33249025418538 Biography Available -
Allentown Public Library 792.802 COPE (Text) 34455006949941 Adult Nonfiction 1st FL Available -
Clymer Library B COPELAND (Text) 32596000532993 Adult Biography Available -
Easton Main Library 792.802 C782w (Text) 31901004666543 Adult Nonfiction Available -

Summary: "Misty Copeland made history as the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Her talent, passion, and perseverance enabled her to make strides no one had accomplished before. But as she will tell you, achievement never happens in a void. Behind her, supporting her rise was her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, who had been virtually alone in her quest to breach the all-white ballet world when she fought to be taken seriously as a black ballerina in the 1950s and 60s. A trailblazer in the world of ballet decades before Misty's time, Raven faced overt and casual racism, hostile crowds, and death threats for having the audacity to dance ballet. The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other--and the dance world--forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with Raven, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands. A beautiful and wise memoir of intergenerational friendship and the impressive journeys of two remarkable women, The Wind at My Back captures the importance of mentorship, of shared history, and of respecting the past to ensure a stronger future"--

Additional Resources