Robeson, Paul

Robeson, Paul

▪ American singer, actor, and political activist
in full  Paul Bustill Robeson 
born April 9, 1898, Princeton, N.J., U.S.
died Jan. 23, 1976, Philadelphia, Pa.

      celebrated American singer, actor, and black activist.

      The son of a former slave turned preacher, Robeson attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., where he was an All-America football player. Upon graduating from Rutgers at the head of his class, he rejected a career as a professional athlete and instead entered Columbia University. He obtained a law degree in 1923, but, because of the lack of opportunity for blacks in the legal profession, he drifted to the stage, making a London debut in 1922. He joined the Provincetown Players, a New York theatre group that included playwright Eugene O'Neill, and appeared in O'Neill's play All God's Chillun Got Wings in 1924. His subsequent appearance in the title role of O'Neill's The Emperor Jones (Emperor Jones, The) caused a sensation in New York City (1924) and London (1925). He also starred in the film version of the play (1933). In addition to his other talents, Robeson had a superb bass-baritone singing voice. In 1925 he gave his first vocal recital of African American spirituals in Greenwich Village, New York City, and he became world famous as Joe in the musical play Show Boat with his version of “Ol' Man River.” His characterization of the title role in Othello in London (1930) won high praise, as did the Broadway production (1943), which set an all-time record run for a Shakespearean play on Broadway.

      Increasing political awareness impelled Robeson to visit the Soviet Union in 1934, and from that year he became increasingly identified with strong left-wing commitments, while continuing his success in concerts, recordings, and theatre. In 1950 the U.S. State Department withdrew his passport because he refused to sign an affidavit disclaiming membership in the Communist Party. In the following years he was virtually ostracized for his political views, although in 1958 the Supreme Court overturned the affidavit ruling. Robeson then left the United States to live in Europe and travel in countries of the Soviet bloc, but he returned to the United States in 1963 because of ill health.

      Robeson appeared in a number of films, including Sanders of the River (1935), Show Boat (1936), Song of Freedom (1936), and The Proud Valley (1940). His autobiography, Here I Stand, was published in 1958.

Additional Reading
Martin Bauml Duberman, Paul Robeson (1988, reissued 1996).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Robeson, Paul — (1898 1976)    Princeton, New Jersey born Paul Bustill Robeson graduated from Rutgers with four varsity letters, then earned his law degree at Columbia University while performing on the side. After singing in the chorus of the all black musical… …   The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater

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  • Robeson, Paul Leroy Bustill — (1898 1976)    American singer, actor, athlete, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson was born the son of a former slave in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers College. An outstanding scholar and athlete, he became the first African… …   Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era

  • Robeson, Paul (Bustill) — born April 9, 1898, Princeton, N.J., U.S. died Jan. 23, 1976, Philadelphia, Pa. U.S. singer, actor, and activist. Born to a former slave turned preacher and a Quaker mother, Robeson attended Rutgers University, where he was an All America… …   Universalium

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  • Robeson,Paul Bustill — Robe·son (rōbʹsən), Paul Bustill. 1898 1976. American singer and actor who played the lead roles in Othello and in Eugene O Neill s The Emperor Jones and sang “Ol Man River” in Showboat. He was an outspoken critic of racism and a supporter of… …   Universalium

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  • Paul Robeson — Infobox actor bgcolour = name = Paul Robeson imagesize = 200px caption = Paul Robeson in June 1942, photo by Gordon Parks birthname = Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson birthdate = birth date|1898|4|9|mf=y location = Princeton, New Jersey deathdate =… …   Wikipedia

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