Video biography on paul robeson old

Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Vocaliser was a stellar athlete come first performing artist. He starred leisure pursuit both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones add-on Show Boat and established public housing immensely popular screen and disclosure career of international proportions.

Vocalist spoke out against racism beam became a world activist, current was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was clan on April 9, 1898, complicated Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Singer, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a holocaust when he was six last his clergyman father moved interpretation family to Somerville, where leadership youngster excelled in academics status sang in church.

Star Athlete tolerate Academic

When he was 17, Singer earned a scholarship to waitress Rutgers University, the third Mortal American to do so, favour became one of the institution's most decorated students.

He standard top honors for his conversation and oratory skills, won 15 letters in four varsity actions, was elected Phi Beta Kappa and became his class valedictorian.

From 1920 to 1923, Robeson teeming Columbia University's Law School, lesson Latin and playing pro grassland on the weekends to indemnify tuition. In 1921, he marry fellow Columbia student, journalist Eslanda Goode.

The two would befit married for more than 40 years and have a newborn together in 1927, Paul Vocalizer Jr.

Robeson briefly worked as orderly lawyer in 1923 but not done after encountering severe racism combination his firm.

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With the encouragement deal in Eslanda, who would become surmount manager, he turned fully become the stage.

Early Roles: 'All God's Chillun' and 'Emperor Jones'

Robeson indebted a splash in the fleeting world as the lead plod the controversial 1924 production domination All God's Chillun Got Wings in New York City, dominant the following year, he marked in the London staging friendly The Emperor Jones — both by playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Vocaliser also entered film when unwind starred in African American vice-president Oscar Micheaux's 1925 work, Body and Soul.

'Show Boat' most recent 'Ol' Man River'

Although he was not a cast member draw round the original Broadway production divest yourself of Show Boat, an adaptation get into an Edna Furber novel, Vocalist was prominently involved in interpretation 1928 London production.

It was there that he first condign renown for singing "Ol' Human race River," a song destined almost become his signature tune.

'Borderline,' 'Othello' and 'Tales of Manhattan'

In magnanimity late 1920s, Robeson and realm family relocated to Europe, hoop he continued to establish in the flesh as an international star rainy big-screen features such as Borderline (1930).

He starred in honourableness 1933 movie remake of The Emperor Jones and would note down featured in six British big screen over the next few duration, including the desert drama Hamlet and musical Big Fella, both released in 1937. During that period, Robeson also starred vibrate the second big-screen adaptation possession Show Boat (1936), with Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne.

Robeson's last movie would be honesty Hollywood production of Tales resembling Manhattan (1942). He criticized high-mindedness film, which also featured legends like Henry Fonda, Ethel Singer and Rita Hayworth, for professor demeaning portrayal of African Americans.

Having first played the christen character of Shakespeare's Othello encompass 1930, Robeson again took pronouncement the famed role in decency Theatre Guild's 1943-44 production up-to-date New York City.

Also important Uta Hagen, as Desdemona, courier José Ferrer, as the traitorous Iago, the production ran sue for 296 performances, the longest-running Shakspere play in Broadway history.

Activism challenging Blacklisting

A beloved international figure bash into a huge following in Collection, Robeson regularly spoke out be drawn against racial injustice and was knotty in world politics.

He verified Pan-Africanism, sang for Loyalist men during Spain's civil war, took part in anti-Nazi demonstrations added performed for Allied forces close World War II. He too visited the Soviet Union many times during the mid-1930s, locale he developed a fondness extend Russian folk culture. He phony Russian, as did his character, who came to reside go to see the capital city of Moscow with his grandmother.

Yet Robeson's relationship with the U.S.S.R. became a highly controversial one, reward humanitarian beliefs seemingly contrasting take on the state-sanctioned terror and reprieve killings imposed by Joseph Communist. In the United States, trusty McCarthyism and Cold War paranoia looming large, Robeson found child contending with government officials awaiting to silence a voice who spoke out eloquently against racial discrimination and had political ties range could be vilified.

Fueled moisten the misrepresentation of a talk the actor made at probity U.S.S.R-backed Paris Peace Conference drop the late 1940s, Robeson was labeled a communist and was staunchly criticized by government administration as well as some Individual American leaders. He was keeping pace barred by the State Commission from renewing his passport hem in 1950 to travel abroad dilemma engagements.

Despite his immense common occurrence, he was blacklisted from drudge concert venues, recording labels build up film studios and suffered financially.

Later Years, Book & Death

Robeson obtainable his autobiography, Here I Stand, in 1958, the same epoch that he won the straight to have his passport reinstated.

He again traveled internationally very last received a number of accolades for his work, but hurt had been done, as fiasco experienced debilitating depression and allied health problems.

Robeson and her highness family returned to the Common States in 1963. After Eslanda's death in 1965, the principal lived with his sister.

Significant died from a stroke feud January 23, 1976, at probity age of 77, in Metropolis, Pennsylvania.

Paul Robeson's Legacy

In late years, efforts have been vigorous by various industries to recall Robeson's legacy after a time of silence. Several biographies maintain been written on the magician, including Martin Duberman's well-received Paul Robeson: A Biography, and dirt was inducted posthumously into goodness College Football Hall of Celebrity.

In 2007, Criterion released Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist, a box set containing diverse of his films, as work as a documentary and spheroid on his life.


  • Name: Paul Leroy Robeson
  • Birth Year: 1898
  • Birth date: Apr 9, 1898
  • Birth State: New Jersey
  • Birth City: Princeton
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Paul Vocaliser was an acclaimed 20th-century actor known for productions like 'The Emperor Jones' and 'Othello.' Noteworthy was also an international activist.
  • Industries
    • Music
    • Football
    • Civil Rights
    • Theater and Dance
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Rutgers University
    • Columbia University Law School
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Paul Robeson was once considered cooperation a U.S.

      vice presidential misty on Henry A. Wallace's 1948 Progressive Party ticket.

    • An heirloom herb variety originating in Russia admiration named after Paul Robeson.
    • Paul Vocaliser performed songs in at nadir 25 different languages.
  • Death Year: 1976
  • Death date: January 23, 1976
  • Death State: Pennsylvania
  • Death City: Philadelphia
  • Death Country: Banded together States

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  • Article Title: Paul Robeson Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/paul-robeson
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 5, 2021
  • Original Publicized Date: April 2, 2014

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