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.

Growing up watching "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" I never thought of Francois Clemmons as the first African-American to have a recurring role on a children's show, to me Officer Clemmons (his character on the show) was just another trusted member of the neighborhood. When I saw this book was coming out I looked forward to learning more about someone who along with Mister Rogers and Sesame Street had helped me become the person I am today. From his early days living on a plantation, his abusive childhood to his chance meeting and lifelong friendship with Fred Rogers, Francois Clemmons fought against his expected role in life and chose instead to bring joy to the world with his marvelous voice. He is, in addition to his many talents, a very gifted storyteller whose story brought on a wide range of emotions from laughter to tears as I read of his life's experiences. I enjoyed this very much!

Read if you: Want to know more about "Officer Clemmons" from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, or want a moving memoir with an African-American/LGBTQ+ perspective.

One of the most memorable stories from the Won't You be My Neighbor? documentary was Francois Clemmons recollecting Fred Rogers telling him not to go to gay nightclubs or let the fact that he was gay. Clemmons recounts this story (and expands upon it) as well as his difficult childhood, his music conservatory days, coming of age during the civil rights movement, performing on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and navigating life as a (fairly closeted) African-American gay man. This is a moving story from a unique man.

Librarians and booksellers: Your patrons/customers who remember Dr. Clemmons from the show or the recent documentary will be drawn to this book.

Many thanks to Catapult Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I confess I have never watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood only because I lived in an area where PBS was unavailable. I chose this book, though, because I was curious about Officer Clemmons. I found the book interesting. Mr. Clemmons is very talented yet was discriminated against. He discusses how he maintained a positive attitude and was soon rewarded for this positive mind set. Mr. Clemmons is a good example of perseverance.
I received an advanced copy of this book and the opinions are my own. Thank you #NetGalley and #OfficerClemmons

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.

An interesting life, to be sure, but that doesn’t quite translate to an interesting memoir. The writing was lacking.

I loved Officer Clemmons on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and really enjoyed this behind the scenes look. Such an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Francois Clemmons has an amazing personal story, and an important one for us to read. To me, the most profound part of the book is his moving introduction and dedication to Fred Rogers. Sadly, I think this rest of the book does not keep that same momentum, and what could be an incredible story ends up falling flat. If you love Mr Rogers and want a window into the life of Officer Clemmons, you might still find it worth your while. But unfortunately the writing is not strong and I think some editor dropped the ball on a great opportunity here.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, to be honest, I ;never remember Officer Clemmons from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, so I was coming at this with no knowledge of the character Clemmons played. I thought that it wouldn't matter, but I never really got engaged with the book. The author's life was interesting, dealing with issues about overcoming the odds due to racism and sexuality, but the writing was just okay. It was not compelling reading despite the hefty topics covered. .I wish I had glowing things to say about this book, but it left me feeling flat instead of uplifted.

I am halfway through the book. I don't necessarily always post about halfway through reading but this really seemed timely so I posted today to my blogger... I will update and continue to read this GEM of a book....

Here is the final review on my Blogger: https:/ /akazoe.blogspot.com/2020/02/officer-clemmons-memoir-book-and-one.html

I have cross posted to Goodreads AND will post to Amazon when the book publishes, I have a reminder set. This book is a triumph... thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read it and share with others that they should as well.

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Why did I want to read this book?

Basically I don't remember the episode or any that he was actually on... only saw them in context of review of Mr. Rodgers career and triumphs over topics.



And it is always always so interesting to hear the background of someone that is now highlighted as such an important piece of PBS/Mr. Rodgers and television history in a way.



As a former producer of content for a PBS station I do remember watching Mr. Rodgers in the 90s when I was at the station. We would watch it in the lobby on the monitor there and just love it, partially for the kitsch but also for the emotion of the show.



I really do appreciate the publisher for giving me the opportunity to preview the book.



There is an opening letter to Mr. Rogers. It was incredibly touching and warm and I have to say I had to stop reading because I just was an emotional wreck. But when I opened the book up again I was taken on the very best journey. Sad, anger inducing but so incredibly worth it. The rest of the book had that warmth. I felt like Dr. Clemmons was sitting next to me telling me his story as I was reading. It was conversational and moved so quickly because I just got enrobed in his story he was telling me.



He writes of his formative first five years and his family at that time and it is amazing... what is so interesting is that this really wasn't too long ago... use of the word mastuh is really brave (it was the Jim Crow South… and lets not forget… this is still happening in so many ways). Sometimes history we learn states that relationship didn't exist... it absolutely did and this shouldn't be forgotten and I am really proud to see that written about in this memoir. It sets a scene for a childhood that is so outside the norm for so many of his readers it's important to remember, recognize and honor.



He writes in very specific terms about the racism that he encounters when joining his friends. What struck me was at the church he got it from a religious person and at the VFW from the doorman. What was so impressive and a reminder is how the story plays out later in his life.



Dr. Clemmons discusses the pain and furor of his stepfather and how instead of being subjected to the domestic violence that entered the home, he would retreat to music with his music teacher. I would imagine that this is more usual than unusual for so many and another reason why I think this book is a triumph. In simple language, you are taken inside his mental space and you understand what he went through.



His tales of how his high school counselors actually have the gal to tell him to not apply to college but to go to a vocational school shows how misguided they were, based on his heritage and color of his skin. Sadly I do think this happens still. Again inert racism. He realized at that time that he was going to have to make it on his own if he wanted to follow his passions because no one in the authority positions were going to help him out. Again, without saying it... I am guessing those guidance counselors where white. Again this wasn't too long ago... it made me wonder deep down inside... does this still happen?



His acceptance to Oberlin September 1963 is a triumph! His college years have him coming into his own with not only his music but his personal life. He learns about himself more and more.



He joins the neighborhood and finds a father figure in Mr. Rogers. His insight into learning about who Fred Rogers is was so very interesting. As a person of color, gay and creative his view of the production and team was really insightful and a reminder to give everyone a chance and observe them was super interesting to me. I will try and do this with my peers in my environments more. To quote a business style this truly is learning about "Emotional Intelligence". I don't want to give too much away about the last part of the book because really I am quite sure that is what most readers are going to want to know about it. All I can say is I learned so much about Dr. Clemmons and Fred Rogers and their relationship it made reading the rest of the book so valuable to me. I found the last half of the book filled with optimism, encouragement, honesty and warmth. It was a delight start to finish.

This is a book about overcoming adversity, stereotypes, learning about who you are deep down, kindness and overall love. Dr. Clemmons strength and optimism shine through this book which was one of the best biographies I have read in a while. It reads easily, quickly and there are about 100 lessons to be learned on how we go through this world and how we encounter and treat people. Lead with kindness.

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.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I've discussed before my love of Mr. Rogers. I read Officer Clemmon's book because I was interested in his story. I'm so glad that more than half of this book talks about Mr. Clemmon's life before he met Fred Rogers. I was particularly enthralled with his Grandfather Saul's singing cane and the tragedies that befell him before he went to college. I also was interested in how he came to terms with his sexuality and his mother's nonacceptance of it and all the horrible racism he encountered.

I was glad that Fred Rogers was the supportive father figure I wanted him to be. Francois Clemmons is an extremely accomplished and interesting man in his own right.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful memoir. As a child I was of course fascinated with Mr. Rogers and was very excited to read this. The struggles that this man had to go through were amazing and the history he made when he was "the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program" is just momentous. I loved all the little tidbits about Mr. Rogers in this book. What a great read.

Following Francois's adventures as an African American Gay artist was amazing. He really helps the reader understand what it was like to be a gay artist in the 60s and 70s. What it was like to have to have a "closeted" lifestyle in order to have a role on children's television. What it meant to be estranged from his family. Doing honor to Oberlin College and all of of the remarkable people that supported his journey.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Mr. Clemmons no doubt led an interesting life and his book had potential, but the writing just wasn't strong as I had hoped for.

Officer Clemons is a well-written autobiography; those looking for a detailed retrospective of Francois Clemons' time in Mister Rogers Neighborhood may be disappointed, but should keep going. The bulk of this book focuses on Clemons' road to the Neighborhood and the painful formative years he escaped.

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 tail. 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 enjoyed reading about Dr. Clemmons' life experiences, both on and off of the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood set. He's a terrific writer who ably communicates how small and big things can both affect our lives in massive ways. I definitely recommend it!

This is an interesting read about Dr. Clemmons who played a role in Mr. Rogers' show. The book is mainly about the life of Dr. Clemmons and how he dealt with being gay growing up in an unaccepting era. It also details how Rogers' & Clemmons' lives crossed & how they worked together. Overall, if you were a fan of Mr. Rogers', you would find this book interesting.