Brendan Behan
Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright (1923-1964)
Paul Robeson was an accomplished American artist who excelled in various fields, including music, acting, and athletics. Despite facing political scrutiny, he remained a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice causes throughout his career.
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About the Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robesonwas an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political stances.
In 1915, Robeson won an academic scholarship to Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he was the only African-American student. While at Rutgers, he was twice named a consensus All-American in football and was elected class valedictorian. He earned his LL.B. from Columbia Law School, while playing in the National Football Leagueand in the film production of Show Boat (1936). Robeson’s political activities began with his involvement with unemployed workers and anti-imperialist students in Britain, and it continued with his support for the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War and his involvement in the Council on African Affairs (CAA).
After returning to the United States in 1939, Robeson supported the American and Allied war efforts during World War II. His history of supporting civil rights causes and Soviet policies, however, brought scrutiny from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). After the war ended, the CAA was placed on the Attorney General’s List of Subversive Organizations. Robeson was investigated during the McCarthy era. When he refused to recant his public advocacy of his political beliefs, the U.S. State Department withdrew his passport and his income plummeted. He moved to Harlem and published a periodical called Freedom, which was critical of United States policies, from 1950 to 1955. Robeson’s right to travel was eventually restored as a result of the 1958 United States Supreme Court decision Kent v. Dulles.
Between 1925 and 1961, Robeson released recordings of some 276 songs. The first of these was the spiritual “Steal Away”, backed with “Were You There”, in 1925. Robeson’s recorded repertoire spanned many styles, including Americana, popular standards, classical music, European folk songs, political songs, poetry and spoken excerpts from plays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul Robeson was a bass-baritone concert artist, actor, and activist who became famous for his cultural achievements, including performances in Eugene O’Neill’s plays and starring in the London production of Show Boat.
Robeson won an academic scholarship to Rutgers College, where he was the only African-American student. He was twice named a consensus All-American in football and was elected class valedictorian. He also earned his law degree from Columbia Law School while playing in the NFL.
Robeson’s history of supporting civil rights causes and Soviet policies brought scrutiny from the FBI. After the war, the government placed restrictions on his ability to travel, and his income plummeted when he refused to recant his political beliefs.
Between 1925 and 1961, Robeson released recordings of over 276 songs, spanning Americana, popular standards, classical music, European folk songs, political songs, poetry, and spoken excerpts from plays.
Robeson performed in Britain, starring in productions like Voodoo and Othello. He also gained attention for films like Sanders of the River and the London premiere of Show Boat. Living in London with his wife Eslanda helped Robeson establish himself as a concert artist.
Robeson’s political activities included involvement with unemployed workers and anti-imperialist students in Britain, support for the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War, and his work with the Council on African Affairs, which was later placed on the Attorney General’s List of Subversive Organizations.
Robeson’s right to travel was eventually restored as a result of the 1958 United States Supreme Court decision Kent v. Dulles, which ruled that the government could not revoke his passport solely based on his political beliefs.
25 Quotes by Paul Robeson
- 1.
And, gentlemen, they have not yet done so, and it is quite clear that no Americans, no people in the world probably, are going to war with the Soviet Union.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 2.
And at home in the United States we found continued and increased persecution, first of leaders of the Communist Party, and then of all honest anti-fascists.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 3.
We must join with the tens of millions all over the world who see in peace our most sacred responsibility.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 4.
In fact, because of this deep desire for peace, the ruling class leaders of this land, from 1945 on, stepped up the hysteria and propaganda to drive into American minds the false notion that danger threatened them from the East.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 5.
I said it was my feeling that the American people would struggle for peace, and that has since been underscored by the President of these United States.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 6.
The Korean war has always been an unpopular war among the American people.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 7.
As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 8.
I do not hesitate one second to state clearly and unmistakably: I belong to the American resistance movement which fights against American imperialism, just as the resistance movement fought against Hitler.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 9.
At every step the vast majority have expressed horror at the idea of an aggressive war.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 10.
But the deep desire for peace remained with the American people.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 11.
I know that if the peace movement takes its message boldly to the Negro people a powerful force can be secured in pursuit of the greatest goal of all mankind. And the same is true of labor and the great democratic sections of our population.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 12.
My mother was born in your state, Mr. Walter, and my mother was a Quaker, and my ancestors in the time of Washington baked bread for George Washington’s troops when they crossed the Delaware, and my own father was a slave.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 13.
I did a long concert tour in England and Denmark and Sweden, and I also sang for the Soviet people, one of the finest musical audiences in the world.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 14.
Through the years I have received my share of recognition for efforts in the fields of sports, the arts, the struggle for full citizenship for the Negro people, labor’s rights and the fight for peace.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 15.
Four hundred million in India, and millions everywhere, have told you, precisely, that the colored people are not going to die for anybody: they are going to die for their independence.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 16.
This United States Government should go down to Mississippi and protect my people. That is what should happen.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 17.
Could I say that the reason that I am here today, you know, from the mouth of the State Department itself, is: I should not be allowed to travel because I have struggled for years for the independence of the colonial peoples of Africa.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 18.
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.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 19.
This is the basis, and I am not being tried for whether I am a Communist, I am being tried for fighting for the rights of my people, who are still second-class citizens in this United States of America.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 20.
Like any other people, like fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in every land, when the issue of peace or war has been put squarely to the American people, they have registered for peace.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 21.
The other reason that I am here today, again from the State Department and from the court record of the court of appeals, is that when I am abroad I speak out against the injustices against the Negro people of this land.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 22.
You want to shut up every Negro who has the courage to stand up and fight for the rights of his people, for the rights of workers, and I have been on many a picket line for the steelworkers too.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 23.
Yes, peace can and must be won, to save the world from the terrible destruction of World War III.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 24.
Why should the Negroes ever fight against the only nations of the world where racial discrimination is prohibited, and where the people can live freely? Never! I can assure you, they will never fight against either the Soviet Union or the peoples’ democracies.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)
- 25.
You know I am an actor, and I have medals for diction.
Paul RobesonAmerican singer, actor, and political activist (1898-1976)