Paul Robeson, a world-famous entertainer, and international civil rights activist was born in New Jersey, in 1898, to Reverend William Drew Robeson, an escaped slave, and Maria Louisa Bustill, a Quaker schoolteacher.

After facing severe racism at work, he abandoned his legal career and pursued acting in films and theater. His theatrical performances focused on dignity to African American actors and pride in African heritage. During the Jim Crow era, he was among the first artists who refused to play live to a segregated audience. He was denounced as a communist, blacklisted from film studios, concerts, and quarantined in the United States. His performances for the loyalist soldiers in the Spanish civil war and anti-Nazi demonstrations during the McCarthy era were some of the reasons why Robeson was targeted by the US government.

Robeson was the first African American actor to play a lead, in the 1925 film Body and Soul, directed by Oscar Micheaux. Starring as Brutus in the 1933 film, The Emperor Jones, his performance was very well received by the audience.

Robeson became more politically aware after the backlash he received in 1935 for his stereotypical portrayal of a colonial African in the movie Sanders of the River. Although the movie made him an international star, Paul Robeson became more conscious of his artistic contributions and the impact it had on the culture. In May 1935 Robeson starred in a play titled Stevedore at the Embassy Theatre followed by several plays at the Westminster Theatre. He also worked on iconic films like Song of Freedom, Show Boat, and King Solomon’s Mines. He was named as the 10^th most popular star in British cinema by the American Motion Picture Herald.

Lawrence Brown, a renowned pianist, and gospel singer Roland Hayes teamed up with Robeson as the lead singer to perform spiritual renditions of African American folk songs through a series of concert tours in America from January 1926 until May 1927, following which Victor Records signed Robeson.

In 1928, Robeson played Joe in the London production of the American musical “Show Boat” at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. His rendition of “Ol’ Man River” became the benchmark for all future performances of the song. Robeson was also summoned for a Royal Command Performance at the Buckingham Palace. “Show Boat” continued for a record-breaking 350 performances.

After his return to the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End, Robeson played Othello opposite Peggy Ashcroft who played Desdemona. He was the first actor of color to play Othello in Britain since Ira Aldridge. The production received mixed reviews stating Robeson’s work was “highly civilized quality but lacking the grand style”. Robeson decided that the best way to diminish the oppression African Americans faced was for his artistic work to be an example of what people of color could accomplish rather than to be a propagandist and make speeches and write articles about the empowerment of colored individuals.

During a tour in 1940, the Beverly Wilshire Hotel was the only hotel in Los Angeles willing to accommodate him due to his race, but with the conditions of an exorbitant rate and registration under an assumed name. Robeson decided to make a statement by dedicating two hours every afternoon to sit in the lobby amongst the other White guests. He ensured that the next time an African American person came through, they will have a place to stay. This led hotels in Los Angeles to lift their restrictions soon after.

At an international student peace conference held in Paris on April 20, 1949, Robeson made a speech with the central point being that African Americans would not support the war with the Soviet Union. This caused the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) to investigate Robeson. In June 1956, Robeson was called before the HUAC after he refused to sign an affidavit affirming that he was not a Communist. He exercised his right to the fifth amendment which allowed him to refuse a response. Robeson lambasted Committee members on civil rights issues concerning African Americans. When asked, why he had not remained in the Soviet Union, he replied, “Because my father was a slave, and my people died to build this country, and I am going to stay here, and have a part of it just like you. And no Fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear? I am for peace with the Soviet Union, and I am for peace with China, and I am not for peace or friendship with the Fascist Franco, and I am not for peace with Fascist Nazi Germans. I am for peace with decent people”.

Robeson became a target for the UN because of his performance in concerts at the Polo Ground that benefitted the anti-war efforts. He was also targeted because of his association with emissaries from the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, his sympathy for The Republic of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and his political efforts with the CAA to get colonial powers to discontinue their exploitation of Africa. This caused Robeson’s career and mental health to suffer immensely and NBC canceled Robeson’s appearance on Eleanor Roosevelt’s television show. Following this, the State Department denied Robeson a passport and issued a “stop notice” at all ports because they believed that an isolated existence inside United States borders would give him less freedom of expression and curtail his extreme advocacy on behalf of the independence of the colonial peoples of Africa. An article titled “Paul Robeson – the Lost Shepherd” was published in The Crisis. It was suspected to be a deliberate attempt by the United States, State Department to defame Robeson’s reputation and reduce his popularity in colonial countries. Another article by Roy Wilkins denounced Robeson and the Communist Party in America with terms consistent with the anti-Communist FBI propaganda.

In 1961 Robeson attempted suicide by cutting his wrists in Moscow. Robeson experienced extreme paranoia combined with emptiness and depression. Paul Jr., his son, believed that his father’s mental health problems were due to attempts by the CIA and MI5 to neutralize his father. He remembered that his father was fearful prior to his prostate operation because he believed that the three doctors treating Robeson in London and New York had been CIA contractors and that his father’s symptoms resulted from being subjected to mind “de-patterning” under MK-ULTRA, a secret CIA program.

 On January 23, 1976, Robeson died in Philadelphia at the age of 77 following complications from a stroke. Reflections on his life written in his diary say, “it was all part of a higher plan and God watches over me and guides me. He’s with me and lets me fight my own battles and hopes I’ll win.” 

Robeson dedicated his life not only to his fellow Americans but to all the people of Africa and its diaspora, whose lives had been fundamentally shaped by slavery. His work to end Apartheid in South Africa was eventually rewarded in 1978 by the UN. A 1980 documentary titled, “Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist won an Academy Award for best short documentary. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Steve McQueen, Golden Globe-nominated director of 12 Years a Slave, revealed that one of his future projects will be based on the incredible life of Paul Robeson.