On April 9, 1898, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, NJ. This multi-talented man led an amazing life in the public eye. As a musician, he helped introduce folk song to wide audiene.

The son of a former slave , Paul Robeson graduated from high school in Sommerville, NJ and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Rutgers University. It was at Rutgers that Robeson would first gain prominence. A gifted athlete, he would receive 12 letters for baseball, basketball, track & field, and football. As a football player, he was chosen for the prestigious All-American team – all despite facing racism and violence from players on opposing as well as his own team. He was a valedictorian at Rutgers and would later attend Columbia University to pursue a degree in law.

While at Columbia he began working for a law firm but was again faced with racism. His wife encouraged Robeson to pursue acting. Soon he would appear on Broadway where in 1924 he played the lead in Eugene O’Neill’s “All God’s Chillun Got Wings” and “The Emperor Jones” the following year. His work on the stage was met with great critical acclaim and he would become one of the first African-American artists to work in the primarily white American Theatre industry. His performance as “Othello” is still regarded as the greatest performance of the rol. Arguably, he was also the most successful actor of his time.

His voice would capture capture audiences. In 1925 he performed as a concert artist and again received enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics. As a child he would listen to the music in local churches here in New Jersey, where his father was a minister. Robeson shared these spirituals in his concert performances, introducing this music to a wide audience. While many African-Americans recorded what would be known as “race” records that were marketed toward an African-American audience, Robeson’s recordings appealed to a wider audience. He would later incorporate folk songs from other nations into his performances including songs from China, Wales, Jewish songs – and music from Russia.

Robeson was a supporter of the Soviet Union. He first visited Russia in 1934, accepting an invitation from Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. During concert tours in Russia, he witnessed what he considered an open society where he did not face the issues of racism as experienced in his own country. He , and many others, felt that the land of socialism treated him with dignity as an equal member of society.

In the 1930’s, Robeson fought fascism and performed in Spain for the International Brigade. He returned to the United States and continued his fight against the fascists as well as the growing civil rights movement. As an activist, he would also become involved with the progressive labor movement. He performed for early U.S.O. tours. He would be awarded numerous awards from colleges and universities as well as the Abraham Lincoln Medal for notable and distinguished services in human relations . He would record patriotic songs such Ballad for Americans” and “What Is America to Me” and would find himself admired and befriended by Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Truman, among many others.

Yet, his views on the Soviet Union and Civil Rights and progressive causes would make him a target. In 1946 he was called in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee where he would declare that he was not a member of the Communist Party, but supported their fight for democracy. Robeson’s critics would fight to discredit him and to block him from performing. Robeson countered by saying that he would abandon his stage and concert career to become more involved as an activist. His loyalty to the United States would be questioned as well as his involvement with the Communist Party. The Ku Kluk Klan would issue death threats. Through it all, Robeson remained defiant and combative.

In 1949, a concert in Peekskill, NY for African American and Jewish labor concerns was cancelled after the KKK and American Legion members threw stones at the crowd. Robeson returned a week later, along with a crowd of 25,000, and a gauntlet of black and white union members who circled the concert grounds to allow Robeson the chance to sing. After the concert, the crowd was attacked by the same protesters – while the New York State Police stood by and watched.

The incident had a galvanizing effect on the progressive movement – and in turn the folk music revival. In 1950 the State Department would use their “discretionary powers” to cancel Robeson’s passport after he refused to sign a document stating that the was not a communist. For the next eight years his ability to perform, and earn a living, was denied him. He was able to book small concert performances in high schools and colleges with help from the United Freedom Fund and National Negro Labor Council. Although Americans did not need passports to travel to Canada, Robeson was stopped at the border and threatened with a $10,000 fine and a five year jail sentence. Unable to travel to Canada, he sang for a crowd over the phone and returned the following two years to sing right on the border to a crowd gathered on the Canadian side. (These concerts were recorded and are available as “The Peace Arch Concerts” on CD.)

After his passport was finally returned in 1958, Robeson embarked on several world tours. By 1964, suffering from health problems, he decided to retire from public life. He would spend the remainder of his life in seclusion, passing away in Philadelphia in 1976.

The life of Paul Robeson is one of the most fascinating stories of the 20th century. His recognition during the 1920’s and 1930’s made him one of the most recognizable figures on the planet, yet his views and the ignorance of others would turn him into a nearly forgotten figure by the 1960’s. It is important that his story be remembered by future generations as part of the struggle not only for human rights, but for personal rights as well. He will be remembered for his courage and dignity that brought him to face important issues of his time. He also used music as a tool in the struggle, and we are lucky that his voice was captured and can be enjoyed and help inspire future generations.