Happy Birthday, Paul Robeson, Entertainer and Social Activist

Born on April 9, 1898, Paul Robeson grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, under the care of his father, a Presbyterian minister. Robeson’s mother passed away in a fire when he was six years old.

He was accepted to Rutgers University at 17 years old, and amassed 12 varsity letters in four sports, earning All-American honors in football (a first for a Rutgers student). He graduated as valedictorian and entered Columbia University School of Law.

After completing his degree in the early 1920s, he was hired by a New York law firm, but left after encountering racial bigotry from a coworker. Persuaded by his wife, Eslanda, Robeson decided to try his hand at acting and joined the Provincetown Players.

Robeson’s acting was well received, and he moved quickly from small stage productions to important plays, musicals and movies.

His performance of "Ol' Man River" in "Show Boat" (1936) showcased his immense vocal talent. The bass voice swells and seems to carry the burden of oppression in the lyrics.

After a highly successful run of London theater, Robeson became a worldwide celebrity.

But Robeson was much more than a celebrity. His PBS biography states: “at the height of his popularity, Robeson was a national symbol and a cultural leader in the war against fascism abroad and racism at home.”

In a visit to the Soviet Union, Robeson was moved by the absence of racial prejudice as a driving societal force. Seeing a similarity between African-American slaves and Russian serfs, Robeson became an advocate of communism—a role that would bring him to the attention of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Robeson became the center of controversy when newspapers accused him of urging Americans not to fight if the Cold War came to a head. Due to the nature of his comments, Robeson’s passport was revoked in 1950, restricting him from traveling outside of the United States.

While giving his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee on June 12, 1956, Robeson asserted: “You gentlemen belong with the Alien and Sedition Acts, and you are the nonpatriots, and you are the un-Americans, and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”

Although his passport was finally restored in 1958, the negative press had taken its toll on Robeson’s career. His autobiography, published the same year, was ignored by prominent reviewers.

“His fame rivaled that of Joe Louis. In India, in Africa, they celebrated his birthday. In Russia, they named a mountain after him.”

As Robeson’s attempts to rejuvenate his career would ultimately fail, so too did his health, driving the once lively Robeson to attempt suicide twice. After spending almost two decades banished from the spotlight, Robeson died from a stroke in 1976.