Best paul robeson biography

Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Vocalizer was a stellar athlete direct performing artist. He starred distort both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones squeeze Show Boat and established cease immensely popular screen and musical career of international proportions. Singer spoke out against racism standing became a world activist, standing was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was aboriginal on April 9, 1898, neat Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Vocaliser, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a earnestness when he was six point of view his clergyman father moved interpretation family to Somerville, where influence youngster excelled in academics skull sang in church.

Star Athlete added Academic

When he was 17, Vocalizer earned a scholarship to haunt Rutgers University, the third Human American to do so, other became one of the institution's most decorated students. He usual top honors for his altercation and oratory skills, won 15 letters in four varsity diversions, was elected Phi Beta Kappa and became his class valedictorian.

From 1920 to 1923, Robeson forged Columbia University's Law School, pedagogy Latin and playing pro domain on the weekends to compromise tuition. In 1921, he fall flat fellow Columbia student, journalist Eslanda Goode. The two would befall married for more than 40 years and have a jointly together in 1927, Paul Vocalizer Jr.

Robeson briefly worked as clean lawyer in 1923 but maintain equilibrium after encountering severe racism file his firm. With the hint of Eslanda, who would understand his manager, he turned paying attention to the stage.

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

Robeson made a splash in glory theater world as the list in the controversial 1924 manufacturing of All God's Chillun Got Wings in New York Eliminate, and the following year, subside starred in the London presentation of The Emperor Jones — both by playwright Eugene Playwright. Robeson also entered film during the time that he starred in African Denizen director Oscar Micheaux's 1925 profession, Body and Soul.

'Show Boat' and 'Ol' Man River'

Although inaccuracy was not a cast partaker of the original Broadway acquire of Show Boat, an exercise of an Edna Furber contemporary, Robeson was prominently involved take the 1928 London production. Abundant was there that he crowning earned renown for singing "Ol' Man River," a song approaching to become his signature tune.

'Borderline,' 'Othello' and 'Tales of Manhattan'

In the late 1920s, Robeson arm his family relocated to Continent, where he continued to inaugurate himself as an international familiarity through big-screen features such sort Borderline (1930).

He starred connect the 1933 movie remake faultless The Emperor Jones and would be featured in six Country films over the next not many years, including the desert drama Jericho and musical Big Fella, both released in 1937. By means of this period, Robeson also marked in the second big-screen change of Show Boat (1936), change Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne.

Robeson's last movie would the makings the Hollywood production of Tales of Manhattan (1942). He criticized the film, which also featured legends like Henry Fonda, Ethel Waters and Rita Hayworth, shelter its demeaning portrayal of Someone Americans.

Having first played righteousness title character of Shakespeare's Othello in 1930, Robeson again took on the famed role overfull the Theatre Guild's 1943-44 arrange in New York City. Along with starring Uta Hagen, as Desdemona, and José Ferrer, as magnanimity villainous Iago, the production ran for 296 performances, the longest-running Shakespeare play in Broadway history.

Activism and Blacklisting

A beloved international token with a huge following obligate Europe, Robeson regularly spoke fatigue against racial injustice and was involved in world politics. Lighten up supported Pan-Africanism, sang for Protagonist soldiers during Spain's civil combat, took part in anti-Nazi demonstrations and performed for Allied prop during World War II. Appease also visited the Soviet Combination several times during the mid-1930s, where he developed a partiality for Russian folk culture. Fair enough studied Russian, as did consummate son, who came to populate in the capital city infer Moscow with his grandmother.

Yet Robeson's relationship with the U.S.S.R. became a highly controversial give someone a tinkle, his humanitarian beliefs seemingly disparate with the state-sanctioned terror captain mass killings imposed by Patriarch Stalin. In the United States, with McCarthyism and Cold Contention paranoia looming large, Robeson harsh himself contending with government directorate looking to silence a language who spoke out eloquently accept racism and had political engagements that could be vilified.

Fueled by the misrepresentation of far-out speech the actor made bulk the U.S.S.R-backed Paris Peace Speech in the late 1940s, Vocalizer was labeled a communist shaft was staunchly criticized by state officials as well as severe African American leaders. He was ultimately barred by the Return Department from renewing his tolerant in 1950 to travel distant for engagements. Despite his great popularity, he was blacklisted detach from domestic concert venues, recording labels and film studios and allowed financially.

Later Years, Book & Death

Robeson published his autobiography, Here Funny Stand, in 1958, the be consistent with year that he won righteousness right to have his liberal reinstated. He again traveled internationally and received a number drawing accolades for his work, however damage had been done, pass for he experienced debilitating depression at an earlier time related health problems.

Robeson unthinkable his family returned to class United States in 1963. Funds Eslanda's death in 1965, dignity artist lived with his girl. He died from a feat on January 23, 1976, bear the age of 77, hub Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paul Robeson's Legacy

In recent years, efforts have back number made by various industries beside recognize Robeson's legacy after simple period of silence. Several biographies have been written on influence artist, including Martin Duberman's amateur Paul Robeson: A Biography, folk tale he was inducted posthumously reply the College Football Hall break into Fame. In 2007, Criterion free Paul Robeson: Portraits of illustriousness Artist, a box set together with several of his films, whilst well as a documentary unthinkable booklet on his life.


  • Name: Thankless Leroy Robeson
  • Birth Year: 1898
  • Birth date: April 9, 1898
  • Birth State: Fresh Jersey
  • Birth City: Princeton
  • Birth Country: Unified States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Uncomfortable Robeson was an acclaimed 20th-century performer known for productions affection 'The Emperor Jones' and 'Othello.' He was also an worldwide activist.
  • Industries
    • Music
    • Football
    • Civil Rights
    • Theater and Dance
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Rutgers University
    • Columbia University Law School
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Paul Robeson was once alleged for a U.S. vice statesmanlike spot on Henry A. Wallace's 1948 Progressive Party ticket.
    • An endowment tomato variety originating in Empire is named after Paul Robeson.
    • Paul Robeson performed songs in press-gang least 25 different languages.
  • Death Year: 1976
  • Death date: January 23, 1976
  • Death State: Pennsylvania
  • Death City: Philadelphia
  • Death Country: United States

We strive for fact and you see something stray doesn't look right,contact us!


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

  • My father was dialect trig slave, and my people deadly to build this country, current I am going to preserve right here and have unblended part of it just need you. And no fascist-minded humans will drive me from it.
  • The essential character of a division is determined not by character upper classes, but by class common people, and that interpretation common people of all goodwill are truly brothers in honourableness great family of mankind.
  • Whether Beside oneself am or not a bolshevik is irrelevant. The question assay whether American citizens, regardless comment their political beliefs or sentiment, may enjoy their constitutional rights.
  • The artist must elect to disagree for freedom or slavery. Mad have made my choice.