BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: PAUL ROBESON
Thursday, October 23, 2008
PAUL ROBESON (1898 – 1976) was an actor, athlete, civil rights activist, singer and one of the most gifted men of the 20th century.
Born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, Paul was the eighth child of Quaker abolitionist Maria Luisa Bustill and former slave and minister William Drew Robeson.
In 1915, Robeson graduated high school and received a scholarship to Rutgers College. He was the third black student accepted and the only black student during his time on campus. He excelled academically, becoming a junior-year Phi Beta Kappa, a champion debater, class valedictorian and gaining admission into Cap and Skull, Rutgers’ honor society in 1919. He also triumphed on the athletic field, earning 15 varsity letters in football, baseball, basketball and track and field. He was named All-American twice in football (1917 and 1918).
While trying out for the football team, Robeson faced savage physical punishment when a senior member of the team crushed his hand with a cleated foot, tearing off fingernails. Coach Walter Camp later described Robeson as “the greatest to ever trot the gridiron”. Later in his life, though, when the U.S. government stopped him from traveling abroad, Robeson’s name was retroactively struck from the roster of the 1917 and 1918 All-America football teams.
Following graduation, Robeson moved to Harlem and entered Columbia Law School. He worked to pay his way through law school by playing professional football in the American Professional Football Association (now known as the National Football League) with the Akron Pros and Milwaukee Badgers. He served as assistant football coach at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he initiated the Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate fraternity for blacks. He also played for the St. Christopher Club traveling basketball team during the 1918-1919 season. In 1922, he starred in the play Taboo in New York and London. He graduated from Columbia the following year and was hired at the law firm of Stotesbury and Miner in New York. However, he quit after a white secretary refused to take dictation from him because of his skin color.
Robeson found fame as an actor and singing star. He was one of the few true basses in American music and won acclaim for his renditions of old spirituals; Robeson was the first to bring them to the concert stage. In 1924, Robeson received acclaim for his performance in the title role of Eugene O’Neille’s The Emperor Jones. He was also noted for his performance in All God’s Chillun Got Wings in which he portrayed the black husband of an abusive white woman who, resenting her husband’s skin color, destroys his promising career as a lawyer. In 1930, he starred in the title role of Shakespeare’s Othello in England, where no U.S. company would employ him for the part. He reprised the role in New York in 1943 and toured with it until 1945. His Broadway run of Othello is the longest of any Shakespeare play. He won the Spingarn Medal for his performance in 1945.
Robeson’s rendition of “Ol’ Man River”
Robeson played the role of Joe, which was written for him, in the 1928 London production of Show Boat and repeated his performance in the 1932 Broadway revival of the show, the 1936 film version, and a 1940 Los Angeles stage production. His rendition of “Ol’ Man River” is widely considered the definitive version of the song. He also played the role of Toussaint L’Ouverture in a 1936 play by C.L.R. James. Robeson’s repertoire of African-American folk songs helped bring these to much wider attention both inside the U.S. and abroad — in particular his rendition of “Go Down Moses.” Robeson also became interested in the folk music of the world; he came to be conversant with 20 languages, fluent or near fluent in 12.
Robeson spoke out against racist conditions experienced by Asian and black Americans. He condemned segregation in both the North and the South and spoke out against lynching. In 1946, he founded the American Crusade Against Lynching. In 1948, Robeson was active in the presidential campaign to elect Progressive Party candidate Henry A. Wallace, who had served as Secretary of Agriculture, Vice President, and Secretary of Commerce in the administrations of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
At a Bill of Rights Conference in New York City in July 1949, a resolution was introduced calling for the freeing all 19 Trotskyists convicted in 1941 under the provisions of the Smith Act, being used at that time against the leaders of the CPUSA. Robeson gave a speech denouncing this idea, saying that the imprisoned Socialist Workers Party members were “the allies of Fascism who want to destroy the new democracies of the world. Let’s not get confused, they are the enemies of the working class. Would you give civil rights to the Ku Klux Klan?” The resolution was defeated and Robeson’s speech is credited with its defeat. Robeson biographer Martin Duberman commented that this “was not Robeson’s finest hour”.
As the United States entered the Cold War, the FBI placed Robeson under surveillance as early as 1941 and compiled a massive dossier on his activities. In 1949, the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) announced that it would hold hearings to investigate Robeson and the loyalty of black Americans. In 1950, the State Department rescinded Robeson’s passport, preventing him from performing or traveling abroad. He found himself blacklisted by Broadway and Hollywood, by concert halls and record companies, radio and television. In 1957, after a seven-year delay, the State Department finally granted him a hearing on the revocation of his passport.
The result was a six-hour grilling, but brought no change in the government’s policy. Robeson fought his lonely battle at great personal cost. In 1958, he published “Here I Stand,” a trenchant autobiography. A Supreme Court decision once again permitted him to travel abroad. Robeson dropped out of public awareness and was largely ignored by the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement, except for the militant young leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
In 1961, Robeson attempted suicide in a Moscow hotel room. His son claimed this was precipitated by a CIA agent who placed some synthetic hallucinogens into his drink under a covert program called MK Ultra. Two years later, Robeson returned to live in the United States. For the remainder of his life he was plagued by ill health, and his appearances were relatively few. In 1976, at the age of 77, Robeson died of a stroke in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had been living with his sister. He was interred in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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61 Comments
1.
toya1
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
This is truly a remarkable story. I had always heard of Robeson and read smalll blurbs about him here and there, but I didn’t know he lived his last years in obscurity like that.
2.
The Holloway Special
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Great Post CL!
3.
Ilovemypeople
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Wow…
I read about him a while back in the book Black Genuis but didn’t know that he ended up in the state he was in. Tragic…simply tragic. To contribute to a world that hates you and to die almost alone, humiliated, broke, broken-hearted and under appreciated by the very people you chose to uplift… The really sad thing about this situation is that it is not uncommon for our black heros and heroins to die broke and forgotten about.
4.
Graduate
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Reppin’ for RUTGERS!!! Woo-wooooo!!
5.
Mrsdawsondn
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
WOW @ that MKULTRA. The FBI and hte US Government ought to be ashamed of themselves!
Paul Robeson was a phenomenal read! I knew he was an actor, a singer, and a pro football player from rutgers but never put two and two together that he was doing all of that at the same time! WOW and he was a lawyer. Talk about multitalented. It takes ALOT of drive to accomplish as much as he did. Makes me proud to be a black american!
6.
col2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
That’s my PHrat! Another great ALPHA man that helped pave the way for African-Americans! Oh, and top 10!
7.
JAVA
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I love how concreteloop keeps me informed I wish a post like this could get 500 comments….
8.
kennedi
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I am very impressed by his accomplishments and many talents. I had always heard of him but never knew exactly WHO he was.
Thanks CL for the education….!
9.
MacDaddy
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Great post! Love the way you fuse history with current events. If it’s okay, I’m going to introduce this piece with a few paragraphs on my blog daddyBstrong.blogspot.com and tell my readers to come here for the fully story. I appreciate you and I got you linked over at my house. Consider me as a link as well. Blessings.
10.
BashyBoo
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I LOVE WHEN CL POSTS INFORMATIVE POSTS LIKE THIS, GREAT JOB CL & HE WAS A NICE LOOKING BROTHA TO BOOT! MORNING CL FAM *HUGS*
11.
BashyBoo
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
IT STILL MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL HOW WE WERE AND ARE STILL TREATED TO THIS DAY
12.
YaChi
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I heard the original rendition of Ole Man River and never attributed it to this fine man. Wow, lawyer, actor, activist……….it just makes me so sad when I see our young black men glorifying violence, pants showcasing their ass (prison garb) and total disrespect towards women.
This man accomplished this when lynchings was common place, blacks were second class citzens and we were considered inferior. Now, we have a half black, half white man running for President of the United States……..astonishing!
13.
Not_An_Angell
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
#12, I was about to type the same words. I completely agree. We were only supposed to go UP. It burns me up that some youth take Mr. Robeson’s (and others) accomplishments for granted. They worked so hard and gave up so much for us to get where we are and for Senator Obama to be able be in the position he is.
14.
UM...I GUESS
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
o m g
i’m def writing a paper about him in my film class… lol
what a coincidence!
its great that you guys do this… very good look
15.
Ara
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
The US Government still pratice this type of harassment to this very day. They will try to destroy anyone who does not glorify white people and their ideologies. The ideology that white people are superior and are automatically born into entitlement.
16.
trinib
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
He was fascinating…so multitalented….pity he lived in a time where it was not appreciated…sad what hate and ignorance can do.
17.
Change- verb,to change one's opinions or intentions
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Wow- what a great man he was… I knew of some of his accomplishments but I had no idea he was a singer….Yes multi-talented and multi-tasking especially during those times is awesome even after they tried to take him down so many times he still preservered!
They really took it to the extreme with drugging him and contributing to illness and eventually his death. Is this one of the hate crimes they will over turn technically they went after him and disguised it as “research” ? hmm
18.
JSTREET
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
A renaissance man indeed. Its inspiring to know of all the things he accomplished in his life time. Thank You for the motivation.
19.
Cee
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
A movie based on the life of this great man would be wonderful! He was a great man who accomplished great things. It’s a shame his end was tragic. God rest his soul and Thank You Mr. Robeson for your contribution.
20.
My V-O-T-E matters
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I’ve read about Mr. Robeson before. It makes me angry to think a man with so many contributions to the world was continously belittled and condemmed. Brother Robeson, we appreiate your remarkable accomplishments and will continue to inform others of your place in AMERICAN history.
21.
ja
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Hey Concreteloop you guys left out the part about his trips to Russia during the cold war.
I’m a fan of history. I love history even more when all the facts are presented. I have many books on Mr Robensen. You guys should read one.
22.
My V-O-T-E matters
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
One more thing, that man’s voice is AMAZING! I love the deepness and control of his voice.
23.
Ara
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
In reference to MK ULTRA, just to think how outraged whites were at the comments made by Rev. Wright, when he denounced the wrongdoings that the US government has practiced for years and still practicing. Has anyone forgotten the Tuskegee Experiment? If you look back in history, any black man or woman and some whites, who have stood up for the rights of black people, have been targeted by the US government, Paul Robeson, Malcom X, Rev Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy just to name a few.
That’s why it is so important to not take what rights and privileges we have for granted. The price of freedom has a price, we must not be complacent and sit idly by
and remain dormant and mute. Don’t let the struggles and accomplishments of our forefathers and ancestors all be in vain.
That’s why it is so important to get out this Nov 4th and vote, too many people have fought and died just for us to be able to exercise that right.
Barack Obama President 2008!!! Yes We Can !!!
24.
JACK
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU!
25.
Ara
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
correction
* Freedom has a price*
26.
greta
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Very Awesome Piece.
27.
Freemama
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Now this is what I’m talking about-who cares if Ri-Ri is fashionable or Diddy has a cast on his arm! Mr. Robeson was the white man’s nightmare, just as Obama is! An educated, intelligent, respectful, black man speaking out for injustices! Mr. Robeson was of mixed heritage, but the skin was black, thus the HATE! Should be 1,000 posts for this-yet there are only 23! Hmmm-what are we mentally eating people?
28.
morganstate
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
He is an amazing individual. I can’t believe that I have never heard of him before!
29.
DARCHG
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Very interesting read!!! Thank you CL for posting such an educational piece. I too heard about Paul Robeson but never knew exactly what impact he had in our Black History.
30.
cali panamami (workin on my bedroom body)
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
such a fine actor. thanks for the post, j. dakar!
31.
MissKStrong
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I love me some Paul Robeson, though I learned some new things today. I didn’t know his mom was mixed race. Also, the incident about the cleat on the hand. Paul Robeson was such a talent. Just like Marcus Garvey, and so many others, he died in obscurity at the hands of the FBI, which wanted to destroy his life.
32.
sayanything
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Paul Robeson is the TRUTH!! I have always admired him..Any film in the works on his life?? If not, Spike–somebody–GET on this ASAP!!!!
33.
N BROOKS
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I want to thank you for this very accurate dipiction of my great uncle. I don’t see as much dedication to him as should be noted. Your article was well written and the research was superb. Good job to your staff and writers, I just wish other journalists would take the time to report information about this great individual. This article makes me proud to know of the strength and blood that runs through my veins. Again thank you very much.
34.
MacDaddy
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Nbrooks: I have not forgotten your great uncle. I wrote about him in my book, which I’m hoping will be published in January or February. Also, I posted a part of this article on my blog at daddyBstrong.blogspot.com and directed my readers to Concrete Loop for the full story. But in the intro to the story, I included the poem that I wrote about your great uncle. Blessings.
35.
reluctant revolutionary
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
What did Lauryn Hill say again ? “Thay haill you then nail you, no matter who you are”… But don’t let that stop you from shining people!
I heart Paul Robeson …
36.
J. Dakar
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
#21: Yeah, there’s a lot that’s not mentioned because unlike a lot of others deserving of a Black History Spotlight, there’s actually a plethora of information out there regarding Mr. Robeson. This BHS is a lot longer than most for that reason.
37.
Cynthia
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Went I was a young girl I worked at Paul Robinson School, here in Wash, DC. And I always remember his legacy. He was a talented individual, just imagine someone who live his entire life in discrimination…..
38.
N.O._Finest
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Well documented. Very Well documented. This piece on Mr. Robeson made me really think about how much a struggle this race puts up with. And you know, I often listen to my Black men speak about how the White man or society as a whole isn’t equipped for the success of a Black man. And although I am far from naive, i really just wanted to muzzle them. But they do have a point: Because at anytime our White counterparts have an issue int his day and time, they don’t have to kill you physically anymore (lynching for example), they can just strip away siince of human development, self-worth, and well-being.
But I say this to my Black Men everywhere: For every house, there is more than one entry. There may be a closed window, but there is a door. There may be a closed door, but there is a crack somewhere. Find a way, Find YOUR way.
39.
ThankU
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I want to thank you in educating me on all the profiles of the many great men and woman you have written on this site.
40.
Ms Ke
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Wow.. very intersting and yet sad and tragic. Thanks CL
41.
Ms. Lovely
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Wow.. I’ve always wondered about the man our library is named after
(RU stand up!!!)..how amazingly tragic. Ppl like Robeson make me realize just how much was sacrificed just for me to be able to even step foot on this campus..I will think twice the next time I complain about my class workload.
42.
modest-goddess
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
a genius
43.
KS
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
awesome post
44.
That Phrozen Phoenix Guy
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Gotta love this guy!! He did all he did AND was a member of my fraternity: ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED!!! Proud to call him a BRUH!
45.
ZULU
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
White people…
46.
JayBay
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
RU stand up!!! Great reading! I attend Rutgers and even though we have plenty of things named after him and a huge statue of him, they failed to give me an in depth bio of him except for the fact that he was an All-American and a Renaissance man. But to know that he went through so many struggles allows me to respect him more. Thanks CL!
GO RUTGERS!!!!!
47.
Tiphanie
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
Love the bio on one of our remarkable American hero. Too bad he didn’t get the honor and recognition he deserved.
48.
Ara
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I don’t believe the attempted suicide statement about Paul Robeson. The government always use suicide to cover up for their wrong doing. They said the same thing about Jean Seberg (white woman), an actress, who was harassed by the FBI because she supported the Black Panthers and the civil rights movement. They found her dead in a car and said it was suicide. Also Marilyn Monroe, turned up mysteriously dead from a overdose of barbiturates, they claimed she commited suicide, but we all know she was messing around with President John F. Kennedy, and she had threatened to tell all that she knew. There’s a big question mark as to what really happened to her.
49.
B
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
J Dakar. You are truly amazing at what you do. I hope your involved in some form of African American historical archiving.
50.
Corey
Thursday, October 23, 2008 /
I love Paul Robeson! GREAT POST CL!!! This is what Ciara is talking about! KEEP it UP!
51.
OB4PRES ( IVOTED)
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
I have heard his name before. His life was truly interesting. We have soo many great black brothers and sisters have done wonderful things with the life they were given. I feel bad that I’m not living to the fullest of my potential.
52.
Octavia
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
Genius, Extrodionaire progressively lived! He sought freedom and in return found haterism… So before MKULTRA was controlled in the boold stream, he saw the sight of a psychosis early on. Life moves like a stream, as the waters become warm and bright: the ways get rougher. This man saw life and become admirable to it; and then realized that it was all a conspiracy from the beginning. As “Black American’s” we have to allow ourselves to breathe in the many beautiful essence of life, because trust me there are so many!
-Octavia A.
53.
Blkmarilyn
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
RU RAH RAH!!! RUTGERS RAH!!!! He is like the black superman. I am a student at Rutgers University and he has many facilities named after him. He is still known at RU as the greatest athlete of all time.
54.
Inspiring Change
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
Like a lot of the other people who made comments, I didn’t know this much about Paul Robeson and this has motivated me to read more about him. He was truly a remarkable human being.
I hope that everyone gets out and VOTE this election. Do it for Paul Robeson and other like him that have paved the way.
55.
AzzedineAliaFan
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
Inspiring yet so sad at the same time, all that he accomplished and all that he had to go through.
56.
AzzedineAliaFan
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
@Black Marylin:
Props to you, too bad that the world didn’t appreciate the gem that he was. I mean this man did it all, in the face of harsh adversity. My hat is truly off to him.
57.
Sarah
Friday, October 24, 2008 /
OMG! THIS MAN WAS AMAZING! Why hasn’t there been a feature film about his life yet…he was beyond brilliant. Thank CL for this…I am definitely intrigued now and I will have to pick up a bio about him.
58.
Amarie
Saturday, October 25, 2008 /
I really need to go and find All God’s Chilluns Got Wings. I love classic movies! Thanks CL for posting this!!
59.
Shoneysweet
Saturday, October 25, 2008 /
wow it is so great to read about our ppl who are sometimes forgotten. THIS MAN WAS AMAZING!
60.
Blkmarilyn
Monday, October 27, 2008 /
J. u should do a piece on Melvin B. Tolson, the real guy who Denzel played in the great debators. I would like to know what happened to him after the debates.
61.
Anonymiss
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 /
@ 57:
That’s a good idea.
My alma mater would hold yearly dinners in his name. I can’t believe how phenomenal this man was.