Paul L. Robeson (1898-1976)
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]aul Robeson was a black American singer and actor kown throughout the world as a fighter for civil rights and equality in the United States. He was an outstanding football player when at Rutgers Univ., then had an international career in singing, as well as acting in theater and movies. He became politically involved in opposition to the Spanish Civil War(during which he sang for anti-fascist loyalist soldiers).
His advocacy of anti-imperialism and socialism, support for the Soviet Union and criticism of the U.S. government resulted in being blacklisted during the repressive anti-communist McCarthy era. Ill health forced him into retirement but he remained until death an advocate of left-wing political causes.
- The essential character of a nation is determined not by the upper classes, but by the common people, and that the common people of all nations are truly brothers in the great family of mankind … And even as I grew to feel more Negro in spirit, or African as I put it then, I also came to feel a sense of oneness with the white working people whom I came to know and love.
- When I sang my American folk melodies in Budapest, Prague, Tiflis, Moscow, Oslo, or the Hebrides or on the Spanish front, the people understood and wept or rejoiced with the spirit of the songs.
- I do not hesitate one second to state clearly and unmistakably: I belong to the American resistance movement which fights against American imperialism.
- In Russia I felt for the first time like a full human being. No color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington. It was the first time I felt like a human being.
To be free… to walk the good American earth as equal citizens, to live without fear, to enjoy the fruits of our toil, to give our children every opportunity in life–that dream which we have held so long in our hearts is today the destiny that we hold in our hands.
Here are two songs by Robeson:
Amazing Grace, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1lSMXE3W8w
Joe Hill, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Kxq9uFDes
Watch a documentary biography of Paul Robeson, “Here I Stand,” including video of the infamous right wing racist riot against Robeson in Peekskill, N.Y.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUki-v-NvoE
NOTICE: YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS (SIGNUPS TO THE GREANVILLE POST BULLETIN) ARE COMPLETELY FREE, ALWAYS. AND WE DO NOT SELL OR RENT OUR EMAIL ADDRESS DATABASES—EVER. That’s a guarantee.