Paul Robeson

Paul RobesonTwentieth-century American artist-activist Paul Robeson dedicated his life to championing the causes of oppressed people from around the world. His leadership, talents, suffering and honor inspired millions around the world. Robeson was a true super hero — a civil rights activist, stage performer, academic and athlete — in the face of tremendous government and societal opposition. He brought down walls of misunderstanding and barriers to achievement and never compromised his political beliefs or his holistic, peaceful worldview, even during times of great social discord and violence. Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey on April 9, 1898 to Rev. William Robeson, a former slave. In 1915 Robeson was awarded an academic scholarship to Rutgers University, and become the third black student in the school’s history during a time of overt hostile racism on campus. Robeson excelled and graduated top in his class and earned twelve letters in athletics, including those for baseball, basketball, football, and track. Robeson received a law degree from Columbia University in 1923 and went to work on Wall Street, only to face discrimination in his practice. Searching for an outlet to achieve recognition for his talents and to proudly represent his race, he turned to his earlier passion for the stage and began starring in plays and musicals. But even at the height of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s his roles on the stage and in film disappointed him, for he had set out to promote his culture but could not escape racial stereotypes. During the 1930s Robeson’s career took him around the world where he learned many languages, exchanged cultural and political notes, studied the trade union movement and adopted a philosophy that would shape his life. He realized he need to fight for all oppressed people around the world, not just blacks, and embraced performance art as a unique and powerful forum that can bridge cultural divides and promote peace. He abandoned acting and devoted his attentions to singing, where he found the freedom to control his materials and incorporate his human rights agenda into revolutionary folk songs and concerts. He rose to celebrity harnessing his musical success and socio-political controversy. The power of his success, however, branded him as very dangerous to the establishment, for they feared his leadership would lead to a massive uprising. During the Cold War Robeson outspokenly sided with the Soviet Union, protesting that their country was far more progressive on the issue of racial tolerance. He asked African-Americans not to support the U.S. government while it continued to deny blacks civil liberties. In 1947 the House Committee on Un–American Activities named Robeson to the enemy list and denied him a passport. Concert hall doors closed to him, the media misquoted and demonized him and eventually the black establishment shunned him as well. His inability to counter the negative publicity during the very conservative, intolerant American mainstream climate of the 1950s brought his career to a halting conclusion. Robeson died on January 23, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His legacy lives on and is celebrated throughout the world. FAIR USE NOTICE: The above may be copyrighted material, and the use of it on jowga.org may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available on a non-profit basis for educational and discussion purposes only. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 USC § 107. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.