Paul Leroy Robeson ,Actor, Singer,Activist

History

1. Paul Leroy Robeson born April 9, 1898 Princeton NJ died Jan 23, 1976 Philadelphia PA

2. William Drew Robeson,(pronounced Robe-son) Paul’s father escaped slavery in 1860 at age 15. He made it to a free state and worked his way thru collage, In 1878 William married Maria Louisa Bustills , Paul’s mother was a free, Black Quaker, abolish, teacher and business person. Paul had three brothers and one sister Rev. Willian Drew Robeson Maria Louisa Bustill Robeson

3. Paul’s father was a clergyman that took time with Paul to teach him how to make speeches and how to act in the segregated times. One lesson I thought was interesting was not to make whites feel threatened by him. The young Paul excelled in school and sang in church. He grew up in an educated area. Where most Black people worked for rich whites. In 1895 Paul’s mother passed from a house fire when he was 6 years old.

4. Paul won a writing competition for a 4 year scholarship to the exclusive Rutgers Collage in 1915. There Paul showed his greatness and genius. Scholar, All American football, track and baseball. player

5. While at Rutgers Paul was subjected to discrimination of times by the football team. They beat the crap out of him on the field. Paul left thinking not to return. But is father told him, let them know that he could take what ever they could dish out! Paul return to the field and dished out some pain to them! He had no more trouble. He got their respect and went on to play in the NFL.

6. Paul went on to earn several degrees. Including in 1920 interring Columbia University Law School. In 1922 he married Eslanda ‘Essie’ Cardozo Goode. Paul graduated the next year. He soon learned that a Black man in a court room other then a defendant was not acceptable in 1923. Paul decides to make his living in the entertainment industry. He could sing and act in English, Russian and German. In 1930 Paul was the first African American to play the role Othello. His version is still today the Role model.

7. Paul, his wife and son decide to live in London in 1928 to avoid the racism of USA. Many people of color were doing the same if they had the means. While there he becomes an abolitionist. Cool! But Paul does not stop there. He takes up the fight for Labor workers. But Paul does not stop there. He rallies with the people against Fascism. He speaks on their behave and sings at gatherings to recruit members. The thing is these groups included Socialist and Pro-Communist. And Paul excepted them with open arms. In 1939 Paul took his family back to the United States due to the threat of war. He continued his great success. He is now the best known and influential person in the 40’s.

8. Paul’s trouble starts in 1949 after backing the Progressive Party a recognized 3 rd party at the time in the presential race. The party was very much against Jim Crow and with Socialist and Pro-Communist members. McCarthyism changed the country. The Red scare. Everyone dropped anything to do with communism. Except Paul. He said something to the effect no matter what they offer me or threaten to take away I will not turn on my friends. I think Paul was showing that he could take what ever they could dish out. Standing on his convictions! In 1950 Paul Robeson was targeted. African Americans were forced to renounce him. Jackie Robinson, the famous baseball star, Roy Wilkins, Leader of the NAACP, W.E.B. DuBois, Scholar. And Paul was still standing. So, the US gov. denied his traveling rights. Solely for his political beliefs. Paul’s passport was canceled. The US gov. considered Paul Black and Red. He was the first to be ‘blackballed’. Robing him of his income. This was done to others but for different reasons. Eartha Kitt, 1960, Mohmand Ali, 1966.

9. In 1958 the US Supreme Court passed a law outlawing canceling passports for political reasons. Paul’s travel rights were reinstated. He returned to Russia to renew his ties. While there in 1961 at a party Paul became sick. Paul’s son believes his father was given some type of drug by a CIA chemist named Sidney Gottlieb. At this time that is the type of crap people were doing. Chemicals for war, LSD for mind control. The Tuskegee experiment funded by US Public Heath Service. I think this is how Stan Lee got the idea for Captain America. In 1963 Paul returned to the US. He became a recluse spending his last 10 years at his sister’s house in West Philadelphia. Paul passed away from a stroke January 23, 1976.