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Officer Clemmons
Details the incredible life story of François Clemmons, beginning with his early years in Alabama and Ohio, marked by family trauma and loss, through his studies as a music major at Oberlin College, where Clemmons began to investigate and embrace his homosexuality, to a chance encounter with Fred Rogers which changed the whole course of both men’s lives, leading to a deep, spiritual friendship and mentorship spanning nearly forty years.
When he earned the role as “Officer Clemmons” on the award-winning television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s program. A new, wide world opened for Francois — but one which also required him to make painful personal choices, and sacrifices.
From New York to the Soviet Union, Berlin to California, Clemmons has performed for audiences around the world, and remains a beloved figure. Evocative and intimate, and buoyed by its author’s own vivacious, inimitable energy, Officer Clemmons chronicles a historical and enlightening life and career of a man who has brought joy to millions of adults and children, across generations and borders.
When he earned the role as “Officer Clemmons” on the award-winning television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s program. A new, wide world opened for Francois — but one which also required him to make painful personal choices, and sacrifices.
From New York to the Soviet Union, Berlin to California, Clemmons has performed for audiences around the world, and remains a beloved figure. Evocative and intimate, and buoyed by its author’s own vivacious, inimitable energy, Officer Clemmons chronicles a historical and enlightening life and career of a man who has brought joy to millions of adults and children, across generations and borders.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
180 people are currently reading
6786 people want to read
About the author
François S. Clemmons
1 book57 followersFrançois Scarborough Clemmons is an American singer, actor, playwright and university lecturer. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as "Officer Clemmons" on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993.--Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
May 14, 2020
As a little girl growing up in the sixties, my favorite show was Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Recently, I saw that a documentary was airing on HBO Family all about Mister Rogers. It was entitled, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?". Well, I watched it in rapt attention and had the best cry I've had in a long time. I gifted my older brother a DVD of this program, and he watched it immediately. He told me it was a good thing he was alone when he watched it, because he bawled his eyes out. It was so very nostalgic and incredibly touching. One of the narrators in this documentary was Dr. Francois Clemmons, the gentleman who played "Officer Clemmons" for many years on the show. Although I had been a faithful watcher of the show growing up, I only had a vague memory of this cast member. Perhaps he wasn't on the show as much as some of the other characters, because of his main career as a tenor vocalist. However, I must say that I loved his contributions to this documentary. He was very forthright and emotional about the beautiful, meaningful relationship he had with Fred Rogers. I really liked Francois, and I wanted to hear more.
The book cover consists of a photo of Francois in character as Officer Clemmons along with Fred Rogers in a scene from Mister Rogers Neighborhood. In fact, he talks about this particular scene in the documentary. They are sitting together with their pant legs rolled up, their feet submerged together in a little pool. I admit, I was really gunning for reading about his experiences with Mister Rogers, but that part of the book didn't commence until the 60% mark. You see, this is the story of Dr. Francois Clemmons' entire life, not just his experiences on Mister Rogers Neighborhood.
Francois had a tragic and stressful upbringing marked by a very disfunctional and often violent family. In addition to those life challenges, he was a black American and gay. Francois recounts multiple incidents of racist behavior towards him, and also his long and complicated journey coming to terms with his sexuality. Life was certainly not easy for him, but he was blessed with an amazing voice and with friends that took him in and kept him safe. He wound up clinching a scholarship to Oberlin college to advance his voice studies. Then he met Joanne Rogers (wife of Fred Rogers) while singing in a church. This eventually led to Francois singing on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and playing the role of police Officer Clemmons. He accepted that role with much trepidation, since as a black man he witnessed and knew of unpleasant experiences with law enforcement.
Fred Rogers had a huge impact on Francois, something you would probably hear from a lot of people who were close to him. Francois was lucky enough to have met Martin Luther King while in college, but he had just been assassinated. There were riots in Pittsburgh where Fred Rogers lived and filmed the show. Fred took Francois in for safety during the riots and lovingly embraced the sobbing Francois. Over the years they worked together, Fred made it clear that he would serve as Francois' father, mentor and friend. He was always there for Francois with love, support and friendship. There was one time that Fred had to have a really serious talk with Francois when he heard that he had been whooping it up at a nearby gay bar. Unfortunately, that behavior wasn't accepted during that era and in order to stay on the children's show Francois would have to keep that part of his life undercover. In fact, several people had suggested he marry a childhood girl friend he had taken to the prom, and he did just that. Of course, the marriage was a disaster.
I loved hearing about Francois' reaction when he first walked onto the Mister Rogers Neighborhood set. It really made him feel good inside. He talked about the various characters such as King Friday, Henrietta Pussycat, X the Owl and Lady Aberlin, who he thought was probably the prettiest girl he'd ever seen (I thought so too back then). This was a remarkable story of a very talented man who triumphed over adversity with his own inner strength and a little help from his friends.
Thank you to the publisher Catapult who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
The book cover consists of a photo of Francois in character as Officer Clemmons along with Fred Rogers in a scene from Mister Rogers Neighborhood. In fact, he talks about this particular scene in the documentary. They are sitting together with their pant legs rolled up, their feet submerged together in a little pool. I admit, I was really gunning for reading about his experiences with Mister Rogers, but that part of the book didn't commence until the 60% mark. You see, this is the story of Dr. Francois Clemmons' entire life, not just his experiences on Mister Rogers Neighborhood.
Francois had a tragic and stressful upbringing marked by a very disfunctional and often violent family. In addition to those life challenges, he was a black American and gay. Francois recounts multiple incidents of racist behavior towards him, and also his long and complicated journey coming to terms with his sexuality. Life was certainly not easy for him, but he was blessed with an amazing voice and with friends that took him in and kept him safe. He wound up clinching a scholarship to Oberlin college to advance his voice studies. Then he met Joanne Rogers (wife of Fred Rogers) while singing in a church. This eventually led to Francois singing on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and playing the role of police Officer Clemmons. He accepted that role with much trepidation, since as a black man he witnessed and knew of unpleasant experiences with law enforcement.
Fred Rogers had a huge impact on Francois, something you would probably hear from a lot of people who were close to him. Francois was lucky enough to have met Martin Luther King while in college, but he had just been assassinated. There were riots in Pittsburgh where Fred Rogers lived and filmed the show. Fred took Francois in for safety during the riots and lovingly embraced the sobbing Francois. Over the years they worked together, Fred made it clear that he would serve as Francois' father, mentor and friend. He was always there for Francois with love, support and friendship. There was one time that Fred had to have a really serious talk with Francois when he heard that he had been whooping it up at a nearby gay bar. Unfortunately, that behavior wasn't accepted during that era and in order to stay on the children's show Francois would have to keep that part of his life undercover. In fact, several people had suggested he marry a childhood girl friend he had taken to the prom, and he did just that. Of course, the marriage was a disaster.
I loved hearing about Francois' reaction when he first walked onto the Mister Rogers Neighborhood set. It really made him feel good inside. He talked about the various characters such as King Friday, Henrietta Pussycat, X the Owl and Lady Aberlin, who he thought was probably the prettiest girl he'd ever seen (I thought so too back then). This was a remarkable story of a very talented man who triumphed over adversity with his own inner strength and a little help from his friends.
Thank you to the publisher Catapult who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
April 10, 2020
Opening Dr. Francois Clemmons book, OFFICER CLEMMONS, is like slicing warm butter. With the first sentence you are already into the essence of the book, and it is so easy to just sit and read and before you know it you’ve read twenty pages, then fifty, and so on until you make yourself put it down for a bit. There is a wonderful conversational style to the book that is like sitting in a room with Dr. Clemmons, listening to him tell you the story of his life.
There is information in the book about his time on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and about his relationship with Fred Rogers, but that isn’t the focus of the entire book. It opens with the story of Clemmons early years, growing up under the influence of his great Uncle. he grew up poor, the son of a sharecropper, but alway feeling loved and protected by his uncle and his grandmother. That is, until floods caused his family to move and he eventually wound up in Philadelphia.
His life, once he moves with his family, is filled with difficulty. There is abuse on the part of his step-father, rejection on the part of his mother because of his sexual orientation, and descrimination from the school system that wants to shuffle him toward a vocational technical school to learn a trade rather than to a 4 year college to study voice, even though his vocal talent is obvious.
Along the way he is fortunate enough to meet several different people who help smooth out some of the rough spots so he can continue his pursuit of a career in music. There are also people who easily accept his homosexuality as well, which gives him the protection he needs to live his life in the way he chooses. This acceptance continues to Fred Rogers. The biggest obstacle he encounters is the realization that, while Mr. Rogers accepts him, homosexuality does not mesh with children’s television at the time and he is going to have to choose between living openly and proudly as a gay man.
The entire story is told with a refreshing naivete which reflects the person he appears to be. He accepts people at face value, accepting their good wishes and offerings of help when they come and he is puzzled and often hurt by people who don’t offer him the same type of acceptance. If you Google images of Dr. Clemmons, many of the photos shown reveal this openness and joy, even as he moved into his more advanced years.
Reading this book will fill you with a variety of emotions from joy and gentleness that is reflected in his relationship with people who are dear to him to anger and frustration at people who want to funnel him into a path that is not one for which he is well suited, simply because of his color. There is more information here that reflects the positive nature of people who came into contact with Dr. Clemmons and who offered him help, or mentorship, or protection throughout his life, and that makes it an uplifting book to read. My thanks to Catapult Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is information in the book about his time on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and about his relationship with Fred Rogers, but that isn’t the focus of the entire book. It opens with the story of Clemmons early years, growing up under the influence of his great Uncle. he grew up poor, the son of a sharecropper, but alway feeling loved and protected by his uncle and his grandmother. That is, until floods caused his family to move and he eventually wound up in Philadelphia.
His life, once he moves with his family, is filled with difficulty. There is abuse on the part of his step-father, rejection on the part of his mother because of his sexual orientation, and descrimination from the school system that wants to shuffle him toward a vocational technical school to learn a trade rather than to a 4 year college to study voice, even though his vocal talent is obvious.
Along the way he is fortunate enough to meet several different people who help smooth out some of the rough spots so he can continue his pursuit of a career in music. There are also people who easily accept his homosexuality as well, which gives him the protection he needs to live his life in the way he chooses. This acceptance continues to Fred Rogers. The biggest obstacle he encounters is the realization that, while Mr. Rogers accepts him, homosexuality does not mesh with children’s television at the time and he is going to have to choose between living openly and proudly as a gay man.
The entire story is told with a refreshing naivete which reflects the person he appears to be. He accepts people at face value, accepting their good wishes and offerings of help when they come and he is puzzled and often hurt by people who don’t offer him the same type of acceptance. If you Google images of Dr. Clemmons, many of the photos shown reveal this openness and joy, even as he moved into his more advanced years.
Reading this book will fill you with a variety of emotions from joy and gentleness that is reflected in his relationship with people who are dear to him to anger and frustration at people who want to funnel him into a path that is not one for which he is well suited, simply because of his color. There is more information here that reflects the positive nature of people who came into contact with Dr. Clemmons and who offered him help, or mentorship, or protection throughout his life, and that makes it an uplifting book to read. My thanks to Catapult Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2021
François Clemmons, born during the Jim Crow era, had a grandmother who remembered the days of slavery, at least the times when white men "worrying" black women was a fact of life. Even though his family moved to Ohio in search of a more stable existence, the attitudes in Youngstown were not much better than deep south, especially if he ventured outside zones of safety. Blessed with a God-given singing voice, François determined early on that that was where his destiny lay. Despite being best known for his appearances in the Neighborhood of Fred Rogers, Dr. Clemmons has continued with an illustrious career and multiple degrees in his beloved field of music.
But it is the character of Fred Rogers that gives him his strength and confidence, who encourages him to follow his dreams, a friendship and mentor-like relationship that spanned 30 years, that gives him his and encourages him to follow his dreams. It was no accident that barriers were broken and the character of Officer Clemmons was created. Fred Rogers knew what he was doing. François is most generous with details of his life, his accomplishments. Those who remember him fondly from those decades as a visitor to Mr. Rogers' home, will have those feelings rekindled.
But it is the character of Fred Rogers that gives him his strength and confidence, who encourages him to follow his dreams, a friendship and mentor-like relationship that spanned 30 years, that gives him his and encourages him to follow his dreams. It was no accident that barriers were broken and the character of Officer Clemmons was created. Fred Rogers knew what he was doing. François is most generous with details of his life, his accomplishments. Those who remember him fondly from those decades as a visitor to Mr. Rogers' home, will have those feelings rekindled.
May 5, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Beth Mowbray
If you are looking for a heartwarming new read, Dr. François Clemmons delivers with his beautifully rendered debut memoir, Officer Clemmons. The man behind the groundbreaking character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood has led an adventurous life, full of ups and downs, struggles and successes. And he certainly never could have imagined how meeting Fred Rogers would influence and change his life, both personally and professionally.
In this memoir, Dr. Clemmons intimately shares the immense role Fred Rogers played in his world — not just as a mentor, but also as a father figure who showed him the power of unconditional love, support, and acceptance in ways he never experienced with his own family. Yet this relationship was not without its struggles. At Roger’s insistence, Dr. Clemmons was compelled to hide who he truly was from the public in order to prevent possible repercussions for the show. He was also forced to confront the complicated relationship between police officers and the black community as he took on a role that Rogers intended to be a “helper,” when the reality he had experienced in his own life ran contrary to this.
The real heart and soul of this book, however, is that Dr. Clemmons tells his entire life story, starting with family history that even precedes his birth. While the parts that delve into his very personal relationship with Fred Rogers are remarkable, the reading experience is enriched by the context of Dr. Clemmons’ life as a whole. In fact, the reader is over 150 pages into the book before Dr. Clemmons even meets Fred Rogers! Yet everything leading up to this chance encounter is just as interesting and important as the events that follow. Dr. Clemmons shares his bond with his Granddaddy Saul as a young child, a relationship which introduced him to the magic of storytelling and music. He speaks to the powerful influence of women in his formative years. He also discusses how he leaned on music to cope with the conflict in his home and immersed himself in books to escape the difficulties of the world around him.
Dr. Clemmons also relays many passions outside of Mister Rogers Neighborhood which the reader may not be familiar with. He discusses his experience as a touring opera singer, the original career choice for which he was specially trained. He reflects on his time as the founder and director of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and he shares stories about his years serving as a choral director and the Alexander Twilight Artist-In Residence at Middlebury College.
In short, Dr. Clemmons bares his soul in this book, sharing everything from traumatic experiences growing up to the racism he has encountered and his journey to embrace his sexuality. He shares painfully difficult experiences with discrimination which led him to hide his true essence in his earlier years, to feel as though he were an outsider. He discusses how he found solace in faith despite the conflicts between what the church told him was acceptable and who he knew he was inside. And throughout it all he has remained a shining light, a beautiful soul, showing “grit” as he likes to say.
Because of his personal relationship with Fred Rogers, Dr. Clemmons is able to provide a unique, never-before-seen perspective of the beloved childrens’ show host. Fans of Mister Rogers and memoirs alike will not want to miss this one!
If you are looking for a heartwarming new read, Dr. François Clemmons delivers with his beautifully rendered debut memoir, Officer Clemmons. The man behind the groundbreaking character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood has led an adventurous life, full of ups and downs, struggles and successes. And he certainly never could have imagined how meeting Fred Rogers would influence and change his life, both personally and professionally.
In this memoir, Dr. Clemmons intimately shares the immense role Fred Rogers played in his world — not just as a mentor, but also as a father figure who showed him the power of unconditional love, support, and acceptance in ways he never experienced with his own family. Yet this relationship was not without its struggles. At Roger’s insistence, Dr. Clemmons was compelled to hide who he truly was from the public in order to prevent possible repercussions for the show. He was also forced to confront the complicated relationship between police officers and the black community as he took on a role that Rogers intended to be a “helper,” when the reality he had experienced in his own life ran contrary to this.
The real heart and soul of this book, however, is that Dr. Clemmons tells his entire life story, starting with family history that even precedes his birth. While the parts that delve into his very personal relationship with Fred Rogers are remarkable, the reading experience is enriched by the context of Dr. Clemmons’ life as a whole. In fact, the reader is over 150 pages into the book before Dr. Clemmons even meets Fred Rogers! Yet everything leading up to this chance encounter is just as interesting and important as the events that follow. Dr. Clemmons shares his bond with his Granddaddy Saul as a young child, a relationship which introduced him to the magic of storytelling and music. He speaks to the powerful influence of women in his formative years. He also discusses how he leaned on music to cope with the conflict in his home and immersed himself in books to escape the difficulties of the world around him.
Dr. Clemmons also relays many passions outside of Mister Rogers Neighborhood which the reader may not be familiar with. He discusses his experience as a touring opera singer, the original career choice for which he was specially trained. He reflects on his time as the founder and director of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and he shares stories about his years serving as a choral director and the Alexander Twilight Artist-In Residence at Middlebury College.
In short, Dr. Clemmons bares his soul in this book, sharing everything from traumatic experiences growing up to the racism he has encountered and his journey to embrace his sexuality. He shares painfully difficult experiences with discrimination which led him to hide his true essence in his earlier years, to feel as though he were an outsider. He discusses how he found solace in faith despite the conflicts between what the church told him was acceptable and who he knew he was inside. And throughout it all he has remained a shining light, a beautiful soul, showing “grit” as he likes to say.
Because of his personal relationship with Fred Rogers, Dr. Clemmons is able to provide a unique, never-before-seen perspective of the beloved childrens’ show host. Fans of Mister Rogers and memoirs alike will not want to miss this one!
June 14, 2023
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I have been, and always will be, a lover of fiction books. In the past, nonfiction books have been too full of the real world and lacking in good writing and storytelling. This memoir, while very clearly a nonfiction book, is not one of those. I was greatly surprised at how easily this book read and flowed, weaving together the author’s life into a story that is near impossible to put down.
So what is this book about?
This memoir takes us on a journey through the life of François Clemmons, a renowned opera singer and beloved character on the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood children’s program. Beginning in the backwoods of Mississippi, we follow François to Alabama, Ohio, and more, all the while getting to see the heartbreaking trials and amazing accomplishments that color Clemmons’ life. From racism to sexuality, spirituality, abuse, and loss, no topic is left untouched as we delve deep into the experiences that led Clemmons through such a successful career and to be the man that he is today.
While many readers may pick up this book because of Clemmons’ close relationship with Fred Rogers and his role on the show, his life was amazingly interesting before Mr. Rogers even enters the tale. The story begins in the backwoods of Mississippi where Clemmons and his extended family lived, the men working as sharecroppers. From here, Clemmons tells us the tale of a family that sticks together and survives together, fleeing floods, battling abusive husbands, and finding new lives up north.
Growing up as a black man in Jim Crow times, Clemmons gives a clear look at what racism looked like back then. Living the majority of his life in the north, he notes that he had things better than if his family had stayed in Mississippi or Alabama, yet each encounter with racism within this story hits hard each time. From getting turned away from clubs, being treated as less than a human being, and losing auditions for being black, Clemmons’s experiences are not easy to swallow, and the way that he writes about the emotional and mental upheaval that they cause is raw and thought-provoking.
“I cried to be taken care of, to be understood, to be vulnerable, to be gay and black and weak and still be lovable.”
To add to the deep emotions that he explores, Clemmons also dives deep into his journey with his sexuality and coming to terms with being gay. This exploration begins early in Clemmons’ life, and clashes quickly with his deep sense of spirituality and relationship with God. As he moves through his life, he takes baby steps out of the closet before getting thrown back in, showing that it was like to choose between being open about who you are and having a public life and career. The way that Clemmons takes us through these experiences and emotions is deeply personal and vulnerable as every feeling is on display, allowing the readers to feel alongside him even if they have never struggled in the same way.
As we move later into his story, readers finally get to meet Fred Rogers, a quiet, humble man whose wife sings on the church choir with François. Throughout Clemmons’ life, he had many surrogate families that took him in, loved him, and supported him the way his real family could not, and eventually the Rogers become the third and final family to really take care of him with Fred being a true father figure. The way the Clemmons writes about the show, Fred, and his influence is so simple and inspiring. To him, Fred was a man who loved the way we all should love, and that love and kindness made all the difference in Clemmons’ life and millions of children’s lives as well.
I loved every aspect of his book and simply with that there was more. Towards the end of the book, the events and descriptions become less chronological and more focused on a few events, which threw me off a bit. I wished to have seen more about the everyday events that pushed François through the beginnings of his career and more about the goings-on at the show. However, I can appreciate that once a certain point was reached, it was the big events that mattered and not the little ones in shaping him.
Whether or not you were a fan of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, this book is absolutely worth picking up!
I have been, and always will be, a lover of fiction books. In the past, nonfiction books have been too full of the real world and lacking in good writing and storytelling. This memoir, while very clearly a nonfiction book, is not one of those. I was greatly surprised at how easily this book read and flowed, weaving together the author’s life into a story that is near impossible to put down.
So what is this book about?
This memoir takes us on a journey through the life of François Clemmons, a renowned opera singer and beloved character on the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood children’s program. Beginning in the backwoods of Mississippi, we follow François to Alabama, Ohio, and more, all the while getting to see the heartbreaking trials and amazing accomplishments that color Clemmons’ life. From racism to sexuality, spirituality, abuse, and loss, no topic is left untouched as we delve deep into the experiences that led Clemmons through such a successful career and to be the man that he is today.
While many readers may pick up this book because of Clemmons’ close relationship with Fred Rogers and his role on the show, his life was amazingly interesting before Mr. Rogers even enters the tale. The story begins in the backwoods of Mississippi where Clemmons and his extended family lived, the men working as sharecroppers. From here, Clemmons tells us the tale of a family that sticks together and survives together, fleeing floods, battling abusive husbands, and finding new lives up north.
Growing up as a black man in Jim Crow times, Clemmons gives a clear look at what racism looked like back then. Living the majority of his life in the north, he notes that he had things better than if his family had stayed in Mississippi or Alabama, yet each encounter with racism within this story hits hard each time. From getting turned away from clubs, being treated as less than a human being, and losing auditions for being black, Clemmons’s experiences are not easy to swallow, and the way that he writes about the emotional and mental upheaval that they cause is raw and thought-provoking.
“I cried to be taken care of, to be understood, to be vulnerable, to be gay and black and weak and still be lovable.”
To add to the deep emotions that he explores, Clemmons also dives deep into his journey with his sexuality and coming to terms with being gay. This exploration begins early in Clemmons’ life, and clashes quickly with his deep sense of spirituality and relationship with God. As he moves through his life, he takes baby steps out of the closet before getting thrown back in, showing that it was like to choose between being open about who you are and having a public life and career. The way that Clemmons takes us through these experiences and emotions is deeply personal and vulnerable as every feeling is on display, allowing the readers to feel alongside him even if they have never struggled in the same way.
As we move later into his story, readers finally get to meet Fred Rogers, a quiet, humble man whose wife sings on the church choir with François. Throughout Clemmons’ life, he had many surrogate families that took him in, loved him, and supported him the way his real family could not, and eventually the Rogers become the third and final family to really take care of him with Fred being a true father figure. The way the Clemmons writes about the show, Fred, and his influence is so simple and inspiring. To him, Fred was a man who loved the way we all should love, and that love and kindness made all the difference in Clemmons’ life and millions of children’s lives as well.
I loved every aspect of his book and simply with that there was more. Towards the end of the book, the events and descriptions become less chronological and more focused on a few events, which threw me off a bit. I wished to have seen more about the everyday events that pushed François through the beginnings of his career and more about the goings-on at the show. However, I can appreciate that once a certain point was reached, it was the big events that mattered and not the little ones in shaping him.
Whether or not you were a fan of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, this book is absolutely worth picking up!
July 7, 2020
This was a quick, engaging read. Clemmons tells his compelling life story in straightforward prose. It's much more than the Mr. Rogers stuff (which is of course interesting--it sounds like they had a very special relationship despite the sadness about Fred insisting that Francois stay in the closet if he was going to be on the show) but also a memoir of being a queer Black person in the 60s and his involvement with the civil rights movement, a different POV than other civil rights memoirs. also includes some moderately spicy talk of his unconventional open-ish marriage.
August 3, 2022
This came very close to being a DNF for me! I did not expect or appreciate detailed information on his sexual life, or the details of them. So much of the book seemed like complaining about life. It got a bit more interesting when Fred Rogers finally made an appearance but not by much. They actually met through Joanne Rogers. Much of the book has already been forgotten since it was presented so much in a “poor me” way, and the focus was on the negative. The one part I did remember clearly was his experience at the Cincinnati opera house. The organization was under a desegregation order and Dr. Clemmons was chosen to be the first one to sing there professionally. He presented it as a personal shock that he was not welcomed and that the administration had gone out of their way to be hostile to him personally. Well, really, what did he expect? Of course the organization was resentful! I am NOT excusing the organization: they handled it like whinny brats. But what was Clemmons expecting them to behave as when it had to come to a court order to desegregate the place? He seemed to have no real understanding of what to expect of the world. Racism is still around and he still seems surprised by it. In some ways, he is right in that you’d think in the 21st century we would be past that. But thanks to racist enablers such as trump, we are back in an era of racism. Maybe we will pull out of this but it is going to a lot of work. Back to the book: I felt sorry for his wife that he married to give himself cover after the “Neighborhood” people found out he was gay. The marriage lasted about two years before the wife moved out, but a total of four years to the divorce. I never got any feeling he had been honest with her about his reasons for marrying her.
I am sorry I found this such a disappointment. I will say his admiration, respect, and love for Fred Rogers does come through loud and clear. I can see why he included the rest of it. I can see why he may have felt that acting the part of a policeman was problematic for a person who was both Black (and Gay). But it never seemed to have occurred to him that was exactly why his role was such an important one, because of his background! Fred Rogers had to have been aware of that and deliberately chose him for the part!
Not recommended.
I am sorry I found this such a disappointment. I will say his admiration, respect, and love for Fred Rogers does come through loud and clear. I can see why he included the rest of it. I can see why he may have felt that acting the part of a policeman was problematic for a person who was both Black (and Gay). But it never seemed to have occurred to him that was exactly why his role was such an important one, because of his background! Fred Rogers had to have been aware of that and deliberately chose him for the part!
Not recommended.
July 9, 2020
Negative book from a self-focused diva who seems to see racism in everything and everyone as he rewrites his life history through a 21st Century filter. The book is repetitive, at times depressing, and poorly paced (he's still in college at the halfway point, Fred Rogers doesn't appear until two-thirds of the way through, and the writer summarizes his last 50 years in the final 40 pages). There's very little about Mr. Rogers here, so if you are thinking most of this is about Fred or the show you'll be disappointed. Instead it's mostly about a boy who grows up still holding on to his childhood traumas and struggles with his sexuality.
Most disappointing was Clemmons seeing racism in everything and never taking the time to acknowledge that without the loving help and support of many white people who cared for him he would never be where he is today. He had a bad childhood and saw real evidence of racism 75 years ago, but he seems to carry that filter throughout the rest of his life and seems to think he's entitled to getting special treatment by whites. As he tells it, he should have much more reason to be upset at his own black family members than the rare instance of perceived racism from whites. Almost everyone who does anything positive for him is white and totally supportive, yet he's always skeptical of trusting them.
It helped me realize the thinking that many African-Americans have. He's suspicious of every white person (including Fred Rogers) and sees racism as the reason behind every decision by others that doesn't go his way. In truth he was going through typical growing pains that most of us dealt with, no matter what our color, and I'd even argue that he was given advantages that most of us didn't because he had so much positive support during integration.
He complains a lot about others but certainly enjoys praising himself. Every minor performance he gives he states how well it went and the thundering sound of the applause. Why does he feel the need to state dozens of times how much the audience loved him?
The central controversy of the book will be how Fred Rogers dealt with the revelation that Clemmons was seen partying in a gay bar in the late 1960s, while the singer was employed by Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I think Fred handled it properly for the time--saying he supported Clemmons as a gay man but that what he did in his private life should not impact his work, and that Clemmons could choose to life his life publicly gay but then he wouldn't be able to represent the children's show. Looking at it through today's society may make Fred look bad but he was being supportive and honest about giving career advice. In the late 1960s out gay men would not be on children's TV shows.
Clemmons responds hypocritically. He gets upset that someone would ask him to not be able to live his perfect life where he can be a good employee while doing anything he wants outside of work. He doesn't seem to understand what it means to be employed and not do something that makes your company look bad. While he criticizes Rogers lightly for this, Clemmons is at the same time hiding his own sexual relationship with at least three other guys! So he has no problem hiding being gay when it's his choice to do so, but objects when his employer tells him he needs to do it to stay on the TV show?
The major issue is that everything Clemmons writes is through today's filter instead of stating why he did things 50 to 70 years ago. He seems to use today's reasoning for everything that happened to him then, always concluding racism or anti-gay sexism. At one point he writes, "If I was to survive this invisible racist army that lurked everywhere, I needed to always be vigilant and ready to do battle." He's living in Ohio and Pittsburgh, with total freedoms, has been given full ride scholarships, is hired for multiple jobs including soloist in a white church, was chosen for the first national public TV show over other candidates, was treated with incredible respect by white families that took him in, and was having sex with a number of white guys...yet there was an invisible racist army lurking everywhere? I don't believe that he thought that way back then, and find some of his stories or thoughts from that era to be less than credible.
For example, Clemmons blames Rogers for pushing him to marry a woman to cover up being gay. The author makes no other mention of any reason to do it, and his thought process is terribly incomplete. We get only a few sentences about the years the married couple spent together and nothing about their sex life.
There's nothing sexual in the book--the author has hidden what happened between the men he fell for, and there's one true mutual male love of his that is the most interesting character (football captain with a girlfriend who romances Clemmons and commits to him as a secret lover for life) that is suddenly dropped in the middle of the book so we have no idea what happened to them the last few decades.
The book is incomplete, plods along focusing on his early years, then so quickly wraps up the past few decades that he skips over many years and events. In the end he seems to have turned himself into a diva who has a very high opinion of himself, complaining about not being treated like a star, and having an unrealistic self-focused view of his life. If Mr. Rogers was his mentor I'm not sure Clemmons was a good student.
Most disappointing was Clemmons seeing racism in everything and never taking the time to acknowledge that without the loving help and support of many white people who cared for him he would never be where he is today. He had a bad childhood and saw real evidence of racism 75 years ago, but he seems to carry that filter throughout the rest of his life and seems to think he's entitled to getting special treatment by whites. As he tells it, he should have much more reason to be upset at his own black family members than the rare instance of perceived racism from whites. Almost everyone who does anything positive for him is white and totally supportive, yet he's always skeptical of trusting them.
It helped me realize the thinking that many African-Americans have. He's suspicious of every white person (including Fred Rogers) and sees racism as the reason behind every decision by others that doesn't go his way. In truth he was going through typical growing pains that most of us dealt with, no matter what our color, and I'd even argue that he was given advantages that most of us didn't because he had so much positive support during integration.
He complains a lot about others but certainly enjoys praising himself. Every minor performance he gives he states how well it went and the thundering sound of the applause. Why does he feel the need to state dozens of times how much the audience loved him?
The central controversy of the book will be how Fred Rogers dealt with the revelation that Clemmons was seen partying in a gay bar in the late 1960s, while the singer was employed by Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I think Fred handled it properly for the time--saying he supported Clemmons as a gay man but that what he did in his private life should not impact his work, and that Clemmons could choose to life his life publicly gay but then he wouldn't be able to represent the children's show. Looking at it through today's society may make Fred look bad but he was being supportive and honest about giving career advice. In the late 1960s out gay men would not be on children's TV shows.
Clemmons responds hypocritically. He gets upset that someone would ask him to not be able to live his perfect life where he can be a good employee while doing anything he wants outside of work. He doesn't seem to understand what it means to be employed and not do something that makes your company look bad. While he criticizes Rogers lightly for this, Clemmons is at the same time hiding his own sexual relationship with at least three other guys! So he has no problem hiding being gay when it's his choice to do so, but objects when his employer tells him he needs to do it to stay on the TV show?
The major issue is that everything Clemmons writes is through today's filter instead of stating why he did things 50 to 70 years ago. He seems to use today's reasoning for everything that happened to him then, always concluding racism or anti-gay sexism. At one point he writes, "If I was to survive this invisible racist army that lurked everywhere, I needed to always be vigilant and ready to do battle." He's living in Ohio and Pittsburgh, with total freedoms, has been given full ride scholarships, is hired for multiple jobs including soloist in a white church, was chosen for the first national public TV show over other candidates, was treated with incredible respect by white families that took him in, and was having sex with a number of white guys...yet there was an invisible racist army lurking everywhere? I don't believe that he thought that way back then, and find some of his stories or thoughts from that era to be less than credible.
For example, Clemmons blames Rogers for pushing him to marry a woman to cover up being gay. The author makes no other mention of any reason to do it, and his thought process is terribly incomplete. We get only a few sentences about the years the married couple spent together and nothing about their sex life.
There's nothing sexual in the book--the author has hidden what happened between the men he fell for, and there's one true mutual male love of his that is the most interesting character (football captain with a girlfriend who romances Clemmons and commits to him as a secret lover for life) that is suddenly dropped in the middle of the book so we have no idea what happened to them the last few decades.
The book is incomplete, plods along focusing on his early years, then so quickly wraps up the past few decades that he skips over many years and events. In the end he seems to have turned himself into a diva who has a very high opinion of himself, complaining about not being treated like a star, and having an unrealistic self-focused view of his life. If Mr. Rogers was his mentor I'm not sure Clemmons was a good student.
September 5, 2024
I’m a good decade older than Mr. Rogers' audience so it wasn’t for nostalgia's sake that I picked this up from the library. It was simply out of curiosity about the show and Fred Rogers, especially since I had no idea who Officer Clemmons was.
In the book’s introduction the author, François Clemmons, asked himself what he could bring to a table already filled with other publications by and about Mr. Rogers – and realized none of them had been authored by a 'black, gay, ordained person of the theater'. But instead of his unique perspective being the lens this is told through it became the story itself – a life story beginning as a Mississippi sharecropper’s son to becoming an internationally known opera singer and the first black performer to have a recurring role on a children’s TV show. I’m a little disappointed I don’t have memories of watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood that I can revisit now with an understanding of the extraordinary road Officer Clemmons traveled on to be there. Thankfully YouTube gave me a taste of what I missed.
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars. Don't get confused by the front cover: this book is (rightfully) much more about Clemmons journey toward accepting himself and what his identities as a gay, Black man making a career for himself as a tenor and television presence have meant to the course of his life.
Fred Rogers was clearly a strong and wonderful mentor to Clemmons (this is only going to strengthen your love for Mr Rogers), but this book is about Clemmons' relationships with any number of people. He shares their stories together in a way that is simple and straight forward, and while I often found myself wanting more closure to one particular thread or another, I'm not sure that's how real life stories ever truly work.
(No bonus stars have been awarded just because I'm excited to brag that Clemmons was an Oberlin alumnus - but you bet I'm going to start that bragging right here and now.)
Fred Rogers was clearly a strong and wonderful mentor to Clemmons (this is only going to strengthen your love for Mr Rogers), but this book is about Clemmons' relationships with any number of people. He shares their stories together in a way that is simple and straight forward, and while I often found myself wanting more closure to one particular thread or another, I'm not sure that's how real life stories ever truly work.
(No bonus stars have been awarded just because I'm excited to brag that Clemmons was an Oberlin alumnus - but you bet I'm going to start that bragging right here and now.)
January 8, 2020
Officer Clemmons is not just another Mister Rogers story. It's a story of race, sexuality, overcoming the odds, and love. Clemmons' story will make you believe in the power of good despite all of the bad we face in this life.
May 28, 2020
Sharing my memoir disclaimer again: I will never rate a [auto]biography based on the person’s life. I rate it based off of the writing style, and this was just not it for me.
March 16, 2023
Officer Clemmons: A Memoir by Dr. François S. Clemmons is a memoir for those who enjoy style over substance as the memoirist rarely does a deep dive into his feelings. Clemmons skims the surface of his life and tells readers what you expect to hear about a black gay man’s life in the 1970s. Although the book is titled after his character from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the cover features a photograph from the show, Fred Rogers and his television show aren’t a major focus of this book. This memoir is very much all about Clemmons—and not in an enlightening way.
Clemmons takes you through his life in a tidy timeline of events. He starts by telling the story of earlier generations of his family who lived in Blackwater, MS. Part one of the book is probably the best written and most interesting section of the book. I gradually lost interest as Clemmons tells his story because he isn’t a good writer. He doesn���t follow up on important people and relationships in his life and basically skips from one episode to another. What comes out clearly is his love of performance and singing and music—and his overwhelming interest in himself.
He has at least two long-term love relationships: Nicky and Michael. Nicky was an important part of his romantic and professional life and he just kind of fades from the book. Michael is a younger man in love with Clemmons, but Clemmons doesn’t feel the same. He marries a woman named LaTanya Mae to appear heterosexual, but never takes into consideration her feelings. She genuinely loves him, but to him she’s a necessary evil. At some point Michael becomes an integral part of their marriage; he is the buffer zone and glue that allows the marriage to continue:
For a man who lived a full life and had to struggle against racism and homophobia, Clemmons is short on insights and self-realization. I didn’t care for the Clemmons revealed by this book; the only picture that came through clearly was his drive to pursue his career no matter what the expense to others around him—even the damage he inflicts on himself by denying his identity as a gay man. The traumatic relationships between his mother, stepfather and sister aren’t fully discussed either. The brutal suicide of his sister is mentioned in the last few pages. He spends barely two pages on her. And his crazy mother who used her religious beliefs as a weapon to shame him and force him to be someone he wasn’t? She’s in the book, but only as a character whose actions he describes. How did he feel?
The only reason to read this book is if you remember the author as Officer Clemmons from the PBS show or are familiar with his music/career. Otherwise, pass. There are probably much better books available that address the theme of being a black gay man in contemporary society.
Clemmons takes you through his life in a tidy timeline of events. He starts by telling the story of earlier generations of his family who lived in Blackwater, MS. Part one of the book is probably the best written and most interesting section of the book. I gradually lost interest as Clemmons tells his story because he isn’t a good writer. He doesn���t follow up on important people and relationships in his life and basically skips from one episode to another. What comes out clearly is his love of performance and singing and music—and his overwhelming interest in himself.
He has at least two long-term love relationships: Nicky and Michael. Nicky was an important part of his romantic and professional life and he just kind of fades from the book. Michael is a younger man in love with Clemmons, but Clemmons doesn’t feel the same. He marries a woman named LaTanya Mae to appear heterosexual, but never takes into consideration her feelings. She genuinely loves him, but to him she’s a necessary evil. At some point Michael becomes an integral part of their marriage; he is the buffer zone and glue that allows the marriage to continue:
But Michael and I knew that he was a balm for my non-relationship with LaTanya Mae. The only time we were intimate now was when he came to visit or when we went to Youngstown. LaTanya Mae and I were married and living in the same apartment, but we were shadow lovers: not touching, not interacting, not without Michael…I was thankful that Michael took the energy and attention from her that I would have gotten otherwise. I didn’t want a sexual relationship with LaTanya Mae, but I had access to all of her; Michael wanted her—wanted both of us—but she seemed to only be interested in a fraternal friendship with him. They could never be sexual partners without me in the middle. And there would never have been a reasonable sexual relationship between LaTanya Mae and me without Michael (240).When they finally divorce, Michael seems the most heartbroken, and yet Clemmons has no comment on any of it except to say, well, it was time to move on and Michael respected our decision and hey, now I’m a free man. Clemmons knows how to describe his surface feelings but he doesn’t analyze or seem to have any insight on how his decisions hurt other people, or how he’s living a false life.
For a man who lived a full life and had to struggle against racism and homophobia, Clemmons is short on insights and self-realization. I didn’t care for the Clemmons revealed by this book; the only picture that came through clearly was his drive to pursue his career no matter what the expense to others around him—even the damage he inflicts on himself by denying his identity as a gay man. The traumatic relationships between his mother, stepfather and sister aren’t fully discussed either. The brutal suicide of his sister is mentioned in the last few pages. He spends barely two pages on her. And his crazy mother who used her religious beliefs as a weapon to shame him and force him to be someone he wasn’t? She’s in the book, but only as a character whose actions he describes. How did he feel?
The only reason to read this book is if you remember the author as Officer Clemmons from the PBS show or are familiar with his music/career. Otherwise, pass. There are probably much better books available that address the theme of being a black gay man in contemporary society.
March 24, 2020
You can't look at the cover of Francois S. Clemmons's autobiographical "Officer Clemmons" without immediately recognizing the lifelong singer as one of the many beloved familiar faces from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Clemmons, after singing alongside Fred Rogers' wife Joanne in a church choir, would initially appear on the fledgling show as a singer before becoming the regular cast member of Officer Clemmons, a black police officer with a kindly demeanor whose presence on the show gave a gentle nudge to a nation in the early days of race relations.
"Officer Clemmons" is not just about Clemmons's time on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," though the book opens with a brief introduction dedicated to his nearly 40-year relationship with Rogers that he describes with great adoration and affection. The book's final chapter is also extensively devoted to his years appearing on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," from his unexpected relationship with the white Presbyterian minister turned children's television host who would become a father figure for Clemmons to the more controversial stories around the homosexuality that Clemmons would have to live discreetly for years both as a regular presence on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and as a professional touring singer whose blackness was already one strike against him.
However, at least 2/3 of "Officer Clemmons" is devoted to Clemmons himself from his upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama and Youngstown, Ohio where he became his church's choir director at age 10 and immersed himself in the spirituals of pre-Civil War America to his college years at the progressive Oberlin College where he would begin exploring the homosexuality that he'd sensed but largely stifled because it conflicted with his familial values and the conservative church in which he was raised.
"Officer Clemmons" is surprisingly devoid of ego for a man who would, during the late 60's and 70's in America, obtain his Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, Master of Fine Arts from what would become Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary Doctor of Arts from Vermont's Middlebury College. Clemmons won a Grammy Award for a recording of "Porgy and Bess" and in the late 80's became even more dedicated to preserving the American Negro Spiritual by founding the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, an effort supported financially by his longtime mentor Fred Rogers.
Clemmons has an engaging personality and an infectious spirit that radiates throughout "Officer Clemmons," though his ultra-casual writing style will be distracting for some and his openness regarding how homosexuality impacted his daily life may be met by resistance from some readers picking up "Officer Clemmons" and expecting a "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" type of reading experience.
While Clemmons's long friendship with Fred Rogers provides much of the heart contained within "Officer Clemmons," the book itself is most effective as a culturally aware biography that powerfully, even achingly, displays the lengths to which one mad had to repress himself in order to live the life for which he was gifted and the life which he loved. From America's racial divisions that would influence Clemmons's childhood and career throughout much of his life to his inability to be out as a homosexual while nonetheless breaking ground as one of the first African-American regulars on children's television programming, Clemmons has lived both an inspirational and a heartbreaking life that would have broken many spirits but seems to have been channeled into his musical gifts and professional choices. "Officer Clemmons" is an incredibly valuable reading experience because Clemmons doesn't really flinch while sharing stories (though certain names are changed to respect confidentiality), still with surprising affection, in which he is being reminded by others around him that he is either not good enough or that he must keep parts of him hidden.
Clemmons retired in 2013 after 13 years as the artist-in-residence at Middlebury College, though his positive influence remains and "Officer Clemmons" captures the entire journey of joys and sorrows with warmth, enthusiasm, innocence, and remarkable vulnerability. While not without its flaws from a literary standpoint, "Officer Clemmons" is an accessible view into one man's journey toward self-acceptance through the lens of an American culture that seemed to never quite offer the acceptance he so desperately craved.
While the material in "Officer Clemmons" may prove a little daunting for some fans of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," the truth is the book beautifully reflects the spirit of Fred Rogers while also delving into the difficult subjects of racism and homophobia and self-identity. It's an entertaining read that will also quietly provoke thoughtful discussion and exchanges of ideas and experiences.
One could easily say that Francois Clemmons's road to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was the road less traveled, a rocky journey filled with unpredictability and potholes galore but through it all his gentle spirit survives and you'll find yourself wanting to be his neighbor.
Clemmons, after singing alongside Fred Rogers' wife Joanne in a church choir, would initially appear on the fledgling show as a singer before becoming the regular cast member of Officer Clemmons, a black police officer with a kindly demeanor whose presence on the show gave a gentle nudge to a nation in the early days of race relations.
"Officer Clemmons" is not just about Clemmons's time on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," though the book opens with a brief introduction dedicated to his nearly 40-year relationship with Rogers that he describes with great adoration and affection. The book's final chapter is also extensively devoted to his years appearing on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," from his unexpected relationship with the white Presbyterian minister turned children's television host who would become a father figure for Clemmons to the more controversial stories around the homosexuality that Clemmons would have to live discreetly for years both as a regular presence on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and as a professional touring singer whose blackness was already one strike against him.
However, at least 2/3 of "Officer Clemmons" is devoted to Clemmons himself from his upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama and Youngstown, Ohio where he became his church's choir director at age 10 and immersed himself in the spirituals of pre-Civil War America to his college years at the progressive Oberlin College where he would begin exploring the homosexuality that he'd sensed but largely stifled because it conflicted with his familial values and the conservative church in which he was raised.
"Officer Clemmons" is surprisingly devoid of ego for a man who would, during the late 60's and 70's in America, obtain his Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, Master of Fine Arts from what would become Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary Doctor of Arts from Vermont's Middlebury College. Clemmons won a Grammy Award for a recording of "Porgy and Bess" and in the late 80's became even more dedicated to preserving the American Negro Spiritual by founding the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, an effort supported financially by his longtime mentor Fred Rogers.
Clemmons has an engaging personality and an infectious spirit that radiates throughout "Officer Clemmons," though his ultra-casual writing style will be distracting for some and his openness regarding how homosexuality impacted his daily life may be met by resistance from some readers picking up "Officer Clemmons" and expecting a "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" type of reading experience.
While Clemmons's long friendship with Fred Rogers provides much of the heart contained within "Officer Clemmons," the book itself is most effective as a culturally aware biography that powerfully, even achingly, displays the lengths to which one mad had to repress himself in order to live the life for which he was gifted and the life which he loved. From America's racial divisions that would influence Clemmons's childhood and career throughout much of his life to his inability to be out as a homosexual while nonetheless breaking ground as one of the first African-American regulars on children's television programming, Clemmons has lived both an inspirational and a heartbreaking life that would have broken many spirits but seems to have been channeled into his musical gifts and professional choices. "Officer Clemmons" is an incredibly valuable reading experience because Clemmons doesn't really flinch while sharing stories (though certain names are changed to respect confidentiality), still with surprising affection, in which he is being reminded by others around him that he is either not good enough or that he must keep parts of him hidden.
Clemmons retired in 2013 after 13 years as the artist-in-residence at Middlebury College, though his positive influence remains and "Officer Clemmons" captures the entire journey of joys and sorrows with warmth, enthusiasm, innocence, and remarkable vulnerability. While not without its flaws from a literary standpoint, "Officer Clemmons" is an accessible view into one man's journey toward self-acceptance through the lens of an American culture that seemed to never quite offer the acceptance he so desperately craved.
While the material in "Officer Clemmons" may prove a little daunting for some fans of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," the truth is the book beautifully reflects the spirit of Fred Rogers while also delving into the difficult subjects of racism and homophobia and self-identity. It's an entertaining read that will also quietly provoke thoughtful discussion and exchanges of ideas and experiences.
One could easily say that Francois Clemmons's road to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was the road less traveled, a rocky journey filled with unpredictability and potholes galore but through it all his gentle spirit survives and you'll find yourself wanting to be his neighbor.
May 4, 2020
This is a deeply affecting personal memoir by a person of astounding accomplishments and a deeply rooted negative sense of self worth. Life was nice until he was four, then it kept escalating in family violence and abuse until his mentors in high school helped him to escape and move to Oberlin college to major in fine arts. Prejudice and segregation were still present but often less overt with relationship to color in the 1960s Ohio but there was also his problem with religiosity to the non gender conforming and the guilt that had been forced upon him. His burgeoning career as a professional tenor and the people who truly cared about him saved his sanity. To clue in on his tastes and abilities: gospel, Leontyne Price, Mahalia Jackson. Politically it was a time of turmoil and unease, but after attaining a BFA at Oberlin he earned full graduate fellowship to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh for the MFA with emphasis on opera.
It was while doing a performance at a Presbyterian Church that he first met Fred Rogers and their friendship began. In his own quiet way Rogers implemented François' public exposure and also, in time, the concept of Officer Clemmons was developed and implemented. But it was in his personal and professional life that Rogers was most influential, and that was a very great thing.
What a wonderful book!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
It was while doing a performance at a Presbyterian Church that he first met Fred Rogers and their friendship began. In his own quiet way Rogers implemented François' public exposure and also, in time, the concept of Officer Clemmons was developed and implemented. But it was in his personal and professional life that Rogers was most influential, and that was a very great thing.
What a wonderful book!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
December 24, 2020
Before I start this review, I did not know of Officer Clemmons, as I was well past the age of watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, I was in high school when the program first aired.
I am giving this 5 stars for several reasons.
I picked this up one evening, to read a few pages before I went to bed, about 80 pages later, I finally had to put it down, as I was falling asleep and dropping the book on the bed.
If I had one thing to say about that, it was as if Francois was in the room talking to me about his life.
That it was divided so evenly in the various segments of his life, yet the continuity was well done.
Francois didn't leave anything out regarding his life, his up's and down's, his dysfunctional family, the discrimination he faced in school, and when he became a "permanent" cast member of the program.
As we have all watched the awfulness of discrimination since George's death, this book is a timely reminder, We Are All Human, We All Deserve Equality, We All Deserve Good Education and We All Deserve Love.
I am giving this 5 stars for several reasons.
I picked this up one evening, to read a few pages before I went to bed, about 80 pages later, I finally had to put it down, as I was falling asleep and dropping the book on the bed.
If I had one thing to say about that, it was as if Francois was in the room talking to me about his life.
That it was divided so evenly in the various segments of his life, yet the continuity was well done.
Francois didn't leave anything out regarding his life, his up's and down's, his dysfunctional family, the discrimination he faced in school, and when he became a "permanent" cast member of the program.
As we have all watched the awfulness of discrimination since George's death, this book is a timely reminder, We Are All Human, We All Deserve Equality, We All Deserve Good Education and We All Deserve Love.
August 17, 2020
I felt a little bit deceived by this book. The title and cover led me to expect that Francois Clemmons was writing either a biography strictly of his time on Mr Rogers Neighborhood or his full biography in light of his role as Officer Clemmons a la Lenard Nimoy's "I'm not Spock/I am Spock". Not so, this is rather a full autobiography of Clemmons, Mr Rogers neighborhood is simply one stop among many occupying about equivalent pages as his college days.
Aside from expecting a different book than I received, the narrative unfolds in memory style and is frequently disjointed. The death of his sister in 1975 is addressed only after the few paragraphs regarding Fred Roger's death in 2003. Chapters and page breaks within chapters are used to some effect to prepare you for a new anecdote, but sometimes a new paragraph starts a whole new train of thought with no connection to the preceding paragraph.
Aside from expecting a different book than I received, the narrative unfolds in memory style and is frequently disjointed. The death of his sister in 1975 is addressed only after the few paragraphs regarding Fred Roger's death in 2003. Chapters and page breaks within chapters are used to some effect to prepare you for a new anecdote, but sometimes a new paragraph starts a whole new train of thought with no connection to the preceding paragraph.
September 22, 2020
I finished this book last night and it was a slog at the end to do it. I'm not American so had no idea who he was or the show but I bought the book because of the cover and had heard what I guess everyone has: that the scene with cooling the feet down in the paddling pool was symbolic because of the race tensions in the US at the time. So I went into it thinking it was going to be more about race and how the show fought to educate people on this. I was sadly mistaken. Humble this man is not. Although his life has been quite interesting it reads as a list of places he has sung and who he has met. He didn't get around to telling the reader about the show until the last third of the book. The book cover was deceiving in my opinion, but I wonder if the book would have sold as many copies if it had a photo of the author singing.
May 5, 2020
Got this an as ARC and wanted to finish it before it came out today.
This book read incredibly fast, even for this slow reader. The language was quite accessible.
Clemmons split the book into different periods of his life and much of it was before he met Mr. Rogers. While he discusses his time on the show, most of the book is spent on his four years at Oberlin College rather than the 25 years he spent on the show.
That said, I wanted to hear his perspective and I got it. Clemmons vividly describes his emotions, even 60 years later. Unsurprisingly, Clemmons has incidents of racism to recount, but he is incredibly candid. The first part of the book is a series of gut-punches of racism, loss, and trauma.
This book read incredibly fast, even for this slow reader. The language was quite accessible.
Clemmons split the book into different periods of his life and much of it was before he met Mr. Rogers. While he discusses his time on the show, most of the book is spent on his four years at Oberlin College rather than the 25 years he spent on the show.
That said, I wanted to hear his perspective and I got it. Clemmons vividly describes his emotions, even 60 years later. Unsurprisingly, Clemmons has incidents of racism to recount, but he is incredibly candid. The first part of the book is a series of gut-punches of racism, loss, and trauma.
March 14, 2023
I was intrigued by this book when I looked into the author more. I of course knew Officer Clemmons from Mr. Rogers, but I didn’t realize he was also an opera singer. As a singer myself, I wanted to hear more about his life! And I had always only heard about his groundbreaking role on the show in the context of Mr. Rogers himself. I thought it would be nice to hear the story straight from the primary source.
I listened to the audiobook of this one and it was sort of an interesting listen. The author talks very matter of factly, even when he’s talking about something very serious. It was almost like an old relative telling you all their stories and you think it’s going to be boring and then you realize they actually had a super interesting life.
One nice bonus to the audiobook - there are a few occasions where he sings! It was a treat.
The author shares his experiences as a gay black man trying to have a career in the 60s/70s. He expresses the anger and sadness he felt, and the loneliness of not being able to be with the person he truly loved. He recounts the rejection he faced in the opera world in favor of less talented white singers, and the enormity of having Fred Rogers, a white man, act as a professional mentor to him.
I wasn’t as engaged in the first two thirds of the book as I was in the last third. Don’t get me wrong - it was not because of the lack of Mr. Rogers content. He spends a lot of time as a young man finding his footing, and being told by older adults what he should do. He admits he was rather naive. But this makes for a less engaging presence.
However, later in life, as a fully developed human with more independent thoughts and feelings and opinions on the world, he is much more interesting and admirable. I wish he had been able to share a little more of his inner self in the earlier parts of the book, but it seems like he had to figure that out for himself as he grew up as well.
This isn’t written amazingly, but he truly has had an fascinating life and experienced more than most. While I had to push through the beginning of this, I did really enjoy it and I was glad to have learned more about this remarkable human.
I listened to the audiobook of this one and it was sort of an interesting listen. The author talks very matter of factly, even when he’s talking about something very serious. It was almost like an old relative telling you all their stories and you think it’s going to be boring and then you realize they actually had a super interesting life.
One nice bonus to the audiobook - there are a few occasions where he sings! It was a treat.
The author shares his experiences as a gay black man trying to have a career in the 60s/70s. He expresses the anger and sadness he felt, and the loneliness of not being able to be with the person he truly loved. He recounts the rejection he faced in the opera world in favor of less talented white singers, and the enormity of having Fred Rogers, a white man, act as a professional mentor to him.
I wasn’t as engaged in the first two thirds of the book as I was in the last third. Don’t get me wrong - it was not because of the lack of Mr. Rogers content. He spends a lot of time as a young man finding his footing, and being told by older adults what he should do. He admits he was rather naive. But this makes for a less engaging presence.
However, later in life, as a fully developed human with more independent thoughts and feelings and opinions on the world, he is much more interesting and admirable. I wish he had been able to share a little more of his inner self in the earlier parts of the book, but it seems like he had to figure that out for himself as he grew up as well.
This isn’t written amazingly, but he truly has had an fascinating life and experienced more than most. While I had to push through the beginning of this, I did really enjoy it and I was glad to have learned more about this remarkable human.
April 29, 2020
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Officer Clemmons is a moving, quick-reading memoir that offers so much more than another perspective on Fred Rogers.
For you if: You like memoirs in general, particularly those by queer people of color; you loved Mister Rogers.
FULL REVIEW:
Thank you so much to Catapult and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy; this book will be published on May 5, 2020.
Officer Clemmons is a memoir by the man who played the character of that name on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, François S. Clemmons. And what an incredible life to describe — François grew up Black and gay in a segregated America with a traumatic family life. He went on to receive undergraduate, graduate, and honorary doctorate degrees in music and became a successful vocalist, touring the country in operas, winning a grammy, and founding the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble before eventually settling down to teach.
And so this book isn’t about Fred Rogers (although he plays a prominent role in the second half); it’s about François. Because, as François says in the book’s first few pages, we cannot understand the profound effect that Fred — professional mentor, dedicated father figure — had on François’s life without that other context first. In fact, I have only vague memories of watching the show, and I still loved this book.
And François does the story justice. He writes well. The parts of this book that take place before he met Fred are just a resonant and interesting as the parts after. I was particularly drawn in when he talked about his lifelong struggle with his gender and sexuality. He gives his story space while also moving the book’s pace along nicely; it’s not a super long book.
You should read this one; I think you’ll like it a lot.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Domestic abuse; Suicide; Racism and homophobia; Statutory rape (mentioned)
TL;DR REVIEW:
Officer Clemmons is a moving, quick-reading memoir that offers so much more than another perspective on Fred Rogers.
For you if: You like memoirs in general, particularly those by queer people of color; you loved Mister Rogers.
FULL REVIEW:
Thank you so much to Catapult and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy; this book will be published on May 5, 2020.
Officer Clemmons is a memoir by the man who played the character of that name on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, François S. Clemmons. And what an incredible life to describe — François grew up Black and gay in a segregated America with a traumatic family life. He went on to receive undergraduate, graduate, and honorary doctorate degrees in music and became a successful vocalist, touring the country in operas, winning a grammy, and founding the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble before eventually settling down to teach.
And so this book isn’t about Fred Rogers (although he plays a prominent role in the second half); it’s about François. Because, as François says in the book’s first few pages, we cannot understand the profound effect that Fred — professional mentor, dedicated father figure — had on François’s life without that other context first. In fact, I have only vague memories of watching the show, and I still loved this book.
And François does the story justice. He writes well. The parts of this book that take place before he met Fred are just a resonant and interesting as the parts after. I was particularly drawn in when he talked about his lifelong struggle with his gender and sexuality. He gives his story space while also moving the book’s pace along nicely; it’s not a super long book.
You should read this one; I think you’ll like it a lot.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Domestic abuse; Suicide; Racism and homophobia; Statutory rape (mentioned)
July 9, 2020
This book was very interesting, as is Clemmons' life. There's a lot more focus on music than I expected in this book, which I enjoyed because I have a background in opera, but I don't think it has as much wide appeal. There were definitely times at which it needed some editing and rearranging but it was a really insightful read.
May 6, 2020
I’m glad I read this and am grateful that I met him. ❤️
April 20, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher as an employee of Page 2 Books in Burien, WA.
"Officer Clemmons" offers a unique perspective on Mister Rogers that needs to be heard!
"Officer Clemmons" offers a unique perspective on Mister Rogers that needs to be heard!
May 4, 2020
What a life! Bravo to Francois Clemmons for generously sharing his vibrant, complicated journey. Recommended for music majors, Gen X, Oberlin and Middlebury alumni, and students of civil rights and LGBTQIA history.
April 1, 2020
If you are looking for a heartwarming memoir of a beautiful soul, you need to go pre-order this one!
Officer Clemmons is the debut memoir from the man behind the well-known, groundbreaking character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. What I loved so much about this book, though, is that Dr. Clemmons tells his whole life story, starting with family history even before he was born. While the parts that delve into his very personal relationship with Fred Rogers are remarkable, the reading experience is enriched by the context of Dr. Clemmons’ life as a whole. He bares his soul, sharing everything from traumatic experiences growing up to the racism he has encountered and his journey to embrace his sexuality. And throughout it all he remains a shining light, showing “grit” as he says!
If you are a fan of Mister Rogers and/or memoirs, you don’t want to miss this one! Many thanks to Catapult for gifting me this galley. Officer Clemmons will be released on May 5th!
Officer Clemmons is the debut memoir from the man behind the well-known, groundbreaking character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. What I loved so much about this book, though, is that Dr. Clemmons tells his whole life story, starting with family history even before he was born. While the parts that delve into his very personal relationship with Fred Rogers are remarkable, the reading experience is enriched by the context of Dr. Clemmons’ life as a whole. He bares his soul, sharing everything from traumatic experiences growing up to the racism he has encountered and his journey to embrace his sexuality. And throughout it all he remains a shining light, showing “grit” as he says!
If you are a fan of Mister Rogers and/or memoirs, you don’t want to miss this one! Many thanks to Catapult for gifting me this galley. Officer Clemmons will be released on May 5th!
January 22, 2022
I picked this up for bookclub. I was interested to learn how a black, gay man ended up on a very white children's television show in the time that desegregation was happening. Instead, we actually superficially learned about the life of the actor who played the character.
It is not until about 2/3 into the book when the Rogers family is introduced in the book. The author does a great job talking about his mentor, but doesn't really realize he had a mentor all this time.
I would have loved to hear about how the author came out publicly. I would have loved to know more about some of the people who were important in his life, such as his mother, his wife, and his friends/lovers who were mentioned multiple times in the book.
I feel that if the author wanted to tell his story, great. I think that he could have given a little more thought to opening up further to his audience. A good editor should have helped with this, along with helping him tell his story in the appropriate order, and not randomly. Oh, by the way, I had a sister and here's what happened to her 30 years before the rest of the story happened - this should have been brought up earlier in the book instead of at the end.
It was an interesting book, but it left me wanting more information. I would recommend the book to someone who likes to do Google searches to check into things that were just barely touched upon in the book.
It is not until about 2/3 into the book when the Rogers family is introduced in the book. The author does a great job talking about his mentor, but doesn't really realize he had a mentor all this time.
I would have loved to hear about how the author came out publicly. I would have loved to know more about some of the people who were important in his life, such as his mother, his wife, and his friends/lovers who were mentioned multiple times in the book.
I feel that if the author wanted to tell his story, great. I think that he could have given a little more thought to opening up further to his audience. A good editor should have helped with this, along with helping him tell his story in the appropriate order, and not randomly. Oh, by the way, I had a sister and here's what happened to her 30 years before the rest of the story happened - this should have been brought up earlier in the book instead of at the end.
It was an interesting book, but it left me wanting more information. I would recommend the book to someone who likes to do Google searches to check into things that were just barely touched upon in the book.
February 3, 2020
While readers will understandably crack this book open for the Fred Rogers stories, this is unquestionably a powerful work that stands on its own aside from Dr. Clemmons' recurring role the TV show. The author recounts some truly heartbreaking moments and triumphant milestones, all the while remaining what I would categorize as blunt and honest. There's so much more to Francois than one could pick up on by seeing him perform, and he makes wondrous use of this medium to not only get his life's story out and into the world, but to serve as inspiration for people of all walks of life.
While I think you might be best served by going into this book and not letting any reviews spoil the details of the author's life ahead of time, you're still in good shape if you're privy to certain sections. Clemmons has woven (with impressive prose, as he proves to be an effective storyteller) an unforgettable path toward success and, yeah, you should probably have some tissues nearby, especially toward the end of the book.
Superb. Can't recommend it enough.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Catapult for the advance read.
While I think you might be best served by going into this book and not letting any reviews spoil the details of the author's life ahead of time, you're still in good shape if you're privy to certain sections. Clemmons has woven (with impressive prose, as he proves to be an effective storyteller) an unforgettable path toward success and, yeah, you should probably have some tissues nearby, especially toward the end of the book.
Superb. Can't recommend it enough.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Catapult for the advance read.
March 13, 2020
If, like me, you grew up with "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," you doubtless remember Officer Clemmons, the local police officer. One of the most powerful moments on the show involved Fred Rogers sharing his wading pool with Francois Clemmons during a time when black people were not allowed to share public swimming pools with white people.
Anyway, Dr. Francois Clemmons has written a beautiful and poignant memoir about his career as an opera singer, his work on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" ... and the challenges of growing up not only black, but gay. In a time of segregation and "the closet," he had a lot of challenges to face.
Clemmons also talks about the various mentors who helped him along the way, including Rogers himself, and how they accepted him regardless of what the social climate was at the time. I found myself smiling, nodding, and yes, crying, at different times when I read this book.
Clemmons was a Neighbor to all of us, and I was tremendously moved by his story. Highly recommended.
Anyway, Dr. Francois Clemmons has written a beautiful and poignant memoir about his career as an opera singer, his work on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" ... and the challenges of growing up not only black, but gay. In a time of segregation and "the closet," he had a lot of challenges to face.
Clemmons also talks about the various mentors who helped him along the way, including Rogers himself, and how they accepted him regardless of what the social climate was at the time. I found myself smiling, nodding, and yes, crying, at different times when I read this book.
Clemmons was a Neighbor to all of us, and I was tremendously moved by his story. Highly recommended.
November 28, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from Catapult in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was a fan of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and remember the character of Officer Clemmons and how he and Fred just got along and were so happy with each other that it made the whole show come to life. I knew I had to jump at the chance to read this book because of all the memories that came to light from watching the show. It also was interesting to hear the upbringing of Francois and learning about the road he got to meet Fred and how he not only landed the role in the show but how that sprung into a lifelong friendship and mentor-ship that will last him an entire lifetime. I know a lot of people will be on the lookout for this book once it is released and I can't wait to hear their reactions.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I was a fan of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and remember the character of Officer Clemmons and how he and Fred just got along and were so happy with each other that it made the whole show come to life. I knew I had to jump at the chance to read this book because of all the memories that came to light from watching the show. It also was interesting to hear the upbringing of Francois and learning about the road he got to meet Fred and how he not only landed the role in the show but how that sprung into a lifelong friendship and mentor-ship that will last him an entire lifetime. I know a lot of people will be on the lookout for this book once it is released and I can't wait to hear their reactions.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
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