Essay on Paul Robeson - 906 Words

Paul Robeson was a famous African American athlete, singer, actor and advocate for the civil rights of people around the world. He rose to prominence in a time when segregation was legal in America and black people were being lynched by white mobs, especially in the South. Born on April 9, 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey, Paul Robeson was the youngest of five children. His father was a runaway slave who went on to graduate from Lincoln University, and his mother came from a family of Quakers who worked for the abolition of slavery. His family was familiar with hardship and the determination to rise above it. His own life was no less challenging. In 1915, Paul won a four-year academic scholarship to Rutgers University. In spite of†¦show more content†¦He is known for changing the Show Boat song Old Man River from the lamentable lyrics Im tired of livin and feared of dyin, to a stronger and more political, I must keep fightin until Im dyin. His eleven films include Body and Soul (1924), Jericho (1937) and Proud Valley (1939). Paul noted that his travels had taught him that racism was not as virulent in Europe as it was in the United States. At home, it was difficult to find restaurants that would serve him; theaters in New York would only seat blacks in the upper balconies and his performances were often surrounded with threats or outright harassment. In London, on the other hand, Robesons opening night performance of Emperor Jones brought the audience to its feet with cheers for twelve encores. Paul Robeson used his deep baritone voice to promote black spirituals, to share the cultures of other countries and to benefit the social movements of his time. He sang for peace and justice in 25 languages throughout the United States, Europe, the Soviet Union and the Third World. Robeson became known as a citizen of the world, as comfortable with the people of Moscow and Nairobi as with the people of Harlem. Among his friends he counted future African leader Jomo Kenyatta, Indias Nehru, historian W. E. B. DuBois, anarchist Emma Goldman and writers James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. In 1933, Robeson donated the proceeds of All Gods ChillunShow MoreRelated Paul Robeson Essay991 Words   |  4 PagesPaul Robeson Paul Robeson as a scholar and athlete was a two-time All-American in football and baseball, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and valedictorian of his high school and college class. As an entertainer he starred in eleven movies, five Broadway musicals, and sang in sold out concerts throughout the world in twenty-five different languages. As a statesman he became known as the citizen of the world, who spoke out whenever he saw social or racial injustices in any country, and spent hisRead MorePaul Robeson955 Words   |  4 PagesPaul Robeson was a famous African American athlete, singer, actor and advocate for the civil rights of people around the world.   He rose to prominence in a time when segregation was legal in America and black people were being lynched by white mobs, especially in the South. Born on April 9, 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey, Paul Robeson was the youngest of five children.   His father was a runaway slave who went on to graduate from Lincoln University, and his mother came from a family of QuakersRead MoreLena Mary Calhoun Horne : An Advocate For Civil Rights And The Abolition Of Segregation1065 Words   |  5 PagesCafà © Society nightclub, popular with both black and white artists and intellectuals. While performing at Cafà © Society, Lena began a friendship with Paul Robeson, an actor, singer, and political activist. Horne would also become acquainted with W.E.B. Du Bois, a long-time fixture in the African-American struggle for equality. Her contacts with Robeson and Du Bois led to her involvement in progressive organizations including the Council for African Affairs, Civil Rights Congress, and Progressive CitizensRead MoreAn Analysis Of Paul Robeson s The Power Of Negro Action 943 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst the essay by Paul Robeson and highlighting some of the most striking and interesting facets, followed by the chapter from Rhonda Williams where I will explore the connections to the chapter by Robeson, and lastly I will look at the essay from Andrea Friedman, where I will further note interesting facets of the reading as well as create ties to the aforementioned works. Paul Robeson’s chapter â€Å"The Power of Negro Action† is rather straightforward from the outset. Robeson is presenting an empoweringRead MoreJackie Robinson : African American Civil Rights Activist1181 Words   |  5 Pagesabout jobs and discrimination. Robeson, Paul. â€Å"You Are the Un-Americans, and You Ought to be Ashamed of Yourselves†. Testimony of Paul Robeson before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 12 June. 1956. This is a transcript of Paul Robeson, an All-American football, became an actor and a political speaker. In 1949, Robeson was the cover of newspapers. There were public statements saying that African Americans would not fight in â€Å"an imperialist war.† Later, Robeson refused to sign proving thatRead MoreRacism in the American Society in the 1920s Essay example1000 Words   |  4 PagesBlacks always had a tough time, this is due to the stereotypical view that the people had of them. The whites believed that the Blacks were primitive, illiterate and criminals. However, this view was not true, a good example would be Paul Robeson who was the son of a former slave and passed his law exams with honours from Columbia University in 1923. White governments feared that the Blacks would take power, and so introduced many laws which took away their freedom (theyRead MoreThe Civil Rights Achievements Of The Famous African American Actor, Canada Lee1333 Words   |  6 Pagesbe omitted from the blacklist if he gave the name of Paul Robeson (a fellow Civil Rights activist and famous singer/actor) to the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee (SISS). However, Lee refused to give into this form of blackmail, which resulted in his being banned from all Hollywood films and theater work in the United States. This blacklisting would lead to the fall of his career during this historical period: The legacies of Paul Robeson and Canada Lee have been tainted by the blacklist machine;Read MoreAfrican American Vernacular1239 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Go down Moses† served a dual purpose during the times of slavery. Spirituals were used as a code between the slaves to aide with the task of attempting to escape slavery or the thought of escaping from bondage. â€Å"Go down Moses† first recorded by Paul Robeson, is a song riddled with ambiguous tones. On the surface, this song tells the story of the Israelites as slaves, which is found in the books of Genesis and Exodus. Moses was called by God to instruct Pharaoh to free the Israelites from the bondagesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello : Race And Performance6373 Words   |  26 Pagesjealousy, and betrayal, audiences to this day continue to be emotionally affected by Othello?s struggle. Not only will this essay illustrate racial issues within the text of the play itself, but also the black Shakespearean actors like Ira Aldridge, Paul Robeson, and James Earl Jones, who suffered severe racial discrimination and were still able to defy racial stereotypes throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the segregated United States, addressing how the actors were emotionally affectedRead MoreNigger : The Folklore Of His Life970 Words   |  4 Pagesadversity and have helped to dispel the myth of Black inferiority. No person was more influential in the world of music and sociopolitical issues that the incomparable Paul Leroy Robeson. Born to parents with different ancestral backgrounds, positioned to become subservient in a racist society, and overcoming tragedy at a young age, Robeson was emboldening in his resolve to succeed. Exceedingly proficient in his academic achievements, and an athlete that broke racial barriers with superb athleticism and