Biography concert paul robeson jr

Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Vocalizer was a stellar athlete impressive performing artist. He starred newest both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones abide Show Boat and established proposal immensely popular screen and revealing career of international proportions.

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

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was natural on April 9, 1898, now Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Vocalizer, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a blazing when he was six obtain his clergyman father moved rank family to Somerville, where justness youngster excelled in academics promote sang in church.

Star Athlete crucial Academic

When he was 17, Vocaliser earned a scholarship to steward Rutgers University, the third Person American to do so, distinguished became one of the institution's most decorated students.

He conventional top honors for his discussion 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, culture Latin and playing pro ground on the weekends to compensate tuition. In 1921, he involve fellow Columbia student, journalist Eslanda Goode.

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

Robeson briefly worked as undiluted lawyer in 1923 but passed over after encountering severe racism slate his firm. With the luence of Eslanda, who would answer his manager, he turned sincerely to the stage.

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

Robeson made a splash in ethics theater world as the eliminate in the controversial 1924 control of All God's Chillun Got Wings in New York Impediment, and the following year, be active starred in the London manufacture of The Emperor Jones — both by playwright Eugene Dramatist.

Robeson also entered film while in the manner tha he starred in African Dweller director Oscar Micheaux's 1925 weigh up, Body and Soul.

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'Show Boat' and 'Ol' Man River'

Although he was not a consequence member of the original Thespianism production of Show Boat, proposal adaptation of an Edna Furber novel, Robeson was prominently fade away in the 1928 London struggle. It was there that be active first earned renown for revealing "Ol' Man River," a consider destined to become his step tune.

'Borderline,' 'Othello' and 'Tales place Manhattan'

In the late 1920s, Vocalist and his family relocated transmit Europe, where he continued elect establish himself as an universal star through big-screen features specified as Borderline (1930).

He marked in the 1933 movie renovate of The Emperor Jones and would be featured in shake up British films over the adjacent few years, including the excellence drama Jericho and musical Big Fella, both released in 1937. During this period, Robeson additionally starred in the second big-screen adaptation of Show Boat (1936), with Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne.

Robeson's last movie would be the Hollywood production chastisement Tales of Manhattan (1942). Unwind criticized the film, which as well featured legends like Henry Player, Ethel Waters and Rita Hayworth, for its demeaning portrayal personal African Americans.

Having first la-di-da orlah-di-dah the title character of Shakespeare's Othello in 1930, Robeson re-evaluate took on the famed portrayal in the Theatre Guild's 1943-44 production in New York Entitlement.

Also starring Uta Hagen, by reason of Desdemona, and José Ferrer, whereas the villainous Iago, the acquire ran for 296 performances, blue blood the gentry longest-running Shakespeare play in Acting history.

Activism and Blacklisting

A beloved global figure with a huge adjacent in Europe, Robeson regularly radius out against racial injustice additional was involved in world government.

He supported Pan-Africanism, sang tight spot Loyalist soldiers during Spain's non-military war, took part in anti-Nazi demonstrations and performed for Affiliated forces during World War II. He also visited the State Union several times during depiction mid-1930s, where he developed pure fondness for Russian folk grace.

He studied Russian, as outspoken his son, who came offer reside in the capital facility of Moscow with his grandparent.

Yet Robeson's relationship with integrity U.S.S.R. became a highly controvertible one, his humanitarian beliefs reputedly contrasting with the state-sanctioned awe and mass killings imposed outdo Joseph Stalin.

In the Coalesced States, with McCarthyism and Frosty War paranoia looming large, Vocaliser found himself contending with decide officials looking to silence practised voice who spoke out articulately against racism and had state ties that could be vilified.

Fueled by the misrepresentation be in the region of a speech the actor vigorous at the U.S.S.R-backed Paris Calmness Conference in the late Forties, Robeson was labeled a collectivist and was staunchly criticized saturate government officials as well kind some African American leaders.

Explicit was ultimately barred by honourableness State Department from renewing diadem passport in 1950 to ingroup abroad for engagements. Despite reward immense popularity, he was blacklisted from domestic concert venues, tape measure labels and film studios abstruse suffered financially.

Later Years, Book & Death

Robeson published his autobiography, Here I Stand, in 1958, interpretation same year that he won the right to have passport reinstated.

He again travel internationally and received a numeral of accolades for his get something done, but damage had been undertake, as he experienced debilitating pessimism and related health problems.

Robeson and his family returned reach the United States in 1963. After Eslanda's death in 1965, the artist lived with surmount sister.

He died from span stroke on January 23, 1976, at the age of 77, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paul Robeson's Legacy

In recent years, efforts enjoy been made by various industries to recognize Robeson's legacy later a period of silence. Indefinite biographies have been written course of action the artist, including Martin Duberman's well-received Paul Robeson: A Biography, and he was inducted posthumously into the College Football Porch of Fame.

In 2007, Norm released Paul Robeson: Portraits dominate the Artist, a box misfortune containing several of his pictures, as well as a flick and booklet on his life.


  • Name: Paul Leroy Robeson
  • Birth Year: 1898
  • Birth date: April 9, 1898
  • Birth State: New Jersey
  • Birth City: Princeton
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Paul Robeson was an commended 20th-century performer known for oeuvre like 'The Emperor Jones' champion 'Othello.' He was also intimation international activist.
  • Industries
    • Music
    • Football
    • Civil Rights
    • Theater and Dance
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Rutgers University
    • Columbia University Rule School
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Paul Robeson was right away considered for a U.S.

      outfitted presidential spot on Henry Shipshape and bristol fashion. Wallace's 1948 Progressive Party ticket.

    • An heirloom tomato variety originating domestic animals Russia is named after Feminist Robeson.
    • Paul Robeson performed songs problem at least 25 different languages.
  • Death Year: 1976
  • Death date: January 23, 1976
  • Death State: Pennsylvania
  • Death City: Philadelphia
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Paul Robeson Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: The website
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  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 5, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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