Activist and Performer, Paul Robeson, Was Born
Actor and activist, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, April 9, 1898, to a formerly enslaved father and an abolitionist mother. Robeson’s stature made him a natural athlete but he gained popularity and notoriety through his acting and activism.
Robeson started his singing career in church and excelled academically. Due to his academic success, Robeson earned a scholarship to attend Rutgers University, making him the third African American to do so. While at Rutgers, he received honors for his debate and oratory skills, varsity sports and was valedictorian of his class. He continued his pursuit of higher education and attended Columbia University’s Law School.
After moving to Harlem, he worked his way through law school while taking roles as an actor and playing football. Robeson passed the New York bar and briefly worked as a lawyer in 1923 but left the firm he was working at due to issues of racism. Following his leave, Robeson decided to pursue a career on stage full-time.
The actor became known for his performances in productions such as “The Emperor Jones” and “Othello.” Robeson entered the film world when he starred in Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 movie, Body and Soul. He established himself as a top-tier performer in music and drama and by the 1940s he was known on an international platform. Robeson used his platform for more than performing and he used it as a way to be a political activist.
Robeson regularly spoke out against racial injustice and got involved with world politics by supporting Pan-Africanism, singing for Loyalist soldiers during Spain’s civil war and taking part in anti-Nazi demonstrations. Robeson even performed for Allied forces during World War II. During the 1930s, he visited the Soviet Union and grew an interest in Russian folk culture.
This interest in Russia led to conflict with the American government and an unconstitutional seizure of his passport. He was labeled a communist and banned by the State Department from traveling abroad for appearances. Although Robeson was popular among the people, he was still blacklisted from venues, record labels and film studios in America.
In 1958, he published his autobiography, Here I Stand, and he won the right to have his passport reinstated although the financial damage was already done. Robeson left for Europe but returned to the United States soon after for health issues.
Robeson died on January 23, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
