Still, we are obligated to ask him, as we would any biographer, what he has to add to the. In fact most early suffragists, white or black, were abolitionists first who used their skills to further feminism. Edgar hoover and the united states state department arranged for the article to be printed and distributed in africa 225 in order to defame robesons reputation and. He has been a civil rights activist since the 1940s, served for more than 20 years as his fathers close aide, and is the archivist of the vast robeson papers. As a boy, he traveled with his parents to europe and lived with his grandmother in moscow, where he became fluent in russian and attended the same public school, he said, as joseph stalins daughter. As a boy, he traveled with his parents to europe and lived with his grandmother in moscow, where he became. Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political.
Singer, actor, author, lawyer, athlete, pacifist and civil rights activist, robeson was also the first african american to receive top billing in motion pictures, delivering unforgettable characterizations in such classics as the emperor jones 1933, sanders of the river. Son of the legendary actor and singer paul robeson sr. The undiscovered paul robeson, an artists journey, 18981939 9780471242659. Aug 01, 1992 martin dubermans treatment of paul robeson s life is a wonder thanks to his exhaustive research i. Paul robeson, in full paul bustill robeson, born april 9, 1898, princeton, n. Armentrout, barbara, and sterling stuckey, paul robesons living legacy, chicago. His mother, maria, was from a prominent quaker family of mixed ancestry. Robesons international achievements as a singer and actor in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated black american of his day, but his outspoken criticism of racism in the united states, his strong support of african independence, and his fascination with the soviet union placed him under the debilitating scrutiny of mccarthyism. Somerville high school, new jersey 1915 university. The son of a former slave, paul robeson 18981976 rose to become an allamerican athlete, phi beta kappa student, internationally celebrated singer and actor, and champion of racial. Jan 30, 2020 the two would be married for more than 40 years and have a son together in 1927, paul robeson jr. Sep, 2011 paul leroy robeson was born in 1898, the son of a runaway slave, william drew robeson. How paul robeson found his political voice in the welsh. He aimed to teach new generations about his fathers.
The son of a former slave turned preacher, robeson attended rutgers university in new brunswick, n. He has been a civil rights activist since the 1940s, served for more than 20 years as his. Paul robeson, artist and activist, on records, radio and television, 2nd. Paul robeson jr, the son of a legend who made his own mark, dead at 86 saying goodbye to tonynominated activist leon bibb the rev. An artists journey, 18981939, the first of a twovolume biography about the singer, actor, and activist by his son, paul robeson, jr. Tributes, selected writings, compiled and edited by roberta yancy dent with the assistance of marilyn robeson and paul robeson, jr. But the past decade or so has ushered in a revival of interest. The eagerly awaited second volume of paul robeson jr. Martin dubermans treatment of paul robesons life is a wonder thanks to his exhaustive research i.
Bearer of a culture by the paul robeson foundation, the paul robeson foundation. Robeson briefly worked as a lawyer in 1923 but left after encountering severe racism at his firm. Robeson wrote two books about his father and created an archive of his writing and films. Book cover of the undiscovered paul robeson i have had the pleasure of teaching a course entitled paul robeson. Robeson was born in brooklyn to entertainer and activist paul robeson and eslanda goode. Looking for books by paul robeson jr see all books authored by paul robeson jr. As his family moved to europe, he grew up in england visiting the st marys town and country school in london and moscow, in the soviet. Martin dubermans groundbreaking 1988 biography, paul robeson, introduced him to a new generation of scholars. This book is written by his son paul robeson jr and in a very impartial and engrossing manner describes the first half of his fathers life the sad second half in a later book, here we read about the assent and also clarifies his fathers views on communism robeson read and spoke russian fluently. Columbia college and paul robeson 100th birthday committee, 1999. He grew up in princeton, new jersey, where he gained fame as one of the greatest football players.
Paul robeson centennial celebration resources about paul robeson 18981976 books at the beginning, our prime interest is books in print or recently out of print and we will list soon to be published books and hope you will keep your eyesears open. The two would be married for more than 40 years and have a son together in 1927, paul robeson jr. Paul robeson jr, the son of a legend who made his own mark. In 1951, an article titled paul robeson the lost shepherd was published in the crisis although paul jr. Having read a number of books on the subject of paul robesons life it is selfevident that the price paid by a number of africanamericans who regained entry back into the united states after experiencing. Robeson attacks mainstream american culture itself in a series of interrelated essays on his father paul robeson, clarence thomas, liberals and conservatives, cultural diversity in the workplace, gender and minorities, blacks and jews, the black middle class, and the university. The paul robeson foundation with the new york historical society, 1998 robeson, paul, here i stand, boston. Paul leroy robeson was born in 1898, the son of a runaway slave, william drew robeson. Apr 05, 2020 paul robeson, celebrated american singer, actor, and black activist. The undiscovered paul robeson, an artists journey by paul robeson, jr. November 2, 1927 april 26, 2014 was an american author, archivist and historian. Bearer of a culture exhibition catalogue, new york. Paul robeson tributes and selected writngs days with paul robeson. More than a question of the politics of race and gender, the debate is about whether meltingpot culture, the foundation of american life, should be replaced by a mosaic culture incorporating.
The undiscovered paul robeson, an artists journey, 1898. The lengthy book covers every aspect of the great entertaineractivists life and is the type of biography that an interested reader finds difficult to put down. Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political activist. Robeson was born in brooklyn to entertainer and activist paul robeson and eslanda goode robeson. Paul robeson covers a wide range of subjects, including his views on socialism and the soviet union, african liberation, and his personal history. This is the first booklength study of the 12 films starring african american renaissance man paul robeson 18981976. Paul robesons antifascist speech that stole show at. A few years later they had a son, paul robeson, jr.
The books are not yet listed in any particular order within the general sections. Jul 02, 2017 paul robeson in relaxed mood at the piano in 1958. For this reason alone, we must welcome paul robeson jrs book. Paul leroy robeson was born in princeton, new jersey, in 1898, to reverend william drew robeson and maria louisa bustill. A life of activism and art is the biography of an african american icon and a demonstration of historian lindsey r. His father, william, was of igbo origin and was born into slavery, william escaped from a plantation in his teens and eventually became the minister of princetons witherspoon street presbyterian. He aimed to teach new generations about his fathers radical politics and criticized those he. Apr 17, 2001 the book is the undiscovered paul robeson. Upon graduating from rutgers at the head of his class, he rejected a career as a. Paul robesons antifascist speech that stole show at royal. Dec 21, 2009 the eagerly awaited second volume of paul robeson jr. Born in brooklyn, the only child of paul and eslanda robeson, as a boy he traveled with his parents to europe and lived with his grandmother in moscow. Paul robeson covers a wide range of subjects, including his views on socialism and the soviet union, african liberation, and his personal. The politics of multiculturalism and the undiscovered paul robeson.
Swindalls knack for thorough, detailed research and reflection. Writings, speeches, interviews, 19181974, edited with an introduction by philip s. April 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was an american bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural. He grew up in princeton, new jersey, where he gained fame as one of the greatest football players ever. He was an african american author, activist and translator. Paul robeson was, at points in his life, an actor, singer, football player, political activist and writer, one of the most diversely talented members. Pauls interactions with wales were shaped by the violence of mining life.
What paul robeson said history smithsonian magazine. From liberty to freedom, published by seven stories press. Paul robesons antifascist speech that stole show at royal albert hall the actor, singer and activist flew to london for a 1937 benefit concert in aid of the spanish republic fri, aug 4, 2017. Singer, actor, author, lawyer, athlete, pacifist and civil rights activist, robeson. Robesons international achievements as a singer and actor in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated black american of his day, but his outspoken criticism of. An amazing biography of a complex and compelling man. The undiscovered paul robeson, an artists journey, 18981939. The legendary paul robeson told his son not to bask in his shadow but to be your own man, and paul robeson jr. Paul robeson centennial celebration resources about paul robeson 18981976 books at the beginning, our prime interest is books in print or recently out of print and we will list soon to be. Having read a number of books on the subject of paul robesons life it is selfevident that the price paid by a number of africanamericans who regained entry back into the united states after experiencing a very good life of freedom and progression in the ussr is the complete denial and demonisation of. Born in brooklyn, the only child of paul and eslanda robeson, as a boy he traveled with his. An esteemed cultural critic, he has lectured across the united states and has appeared on radio and television programs across the globe.